Vet Wisdom® Café

Oscar Worthy Animal Performances?

I read an article the other day about animal performances in movies that might be worthy of an award. Apparently a website called the Dog Daily News (I had some trouble accessing their site, so click with care) created their own awards for dogs called the Golden Collar Award, and Director Martin Scorcese got wind of them. 

His movie,  Hugo, is nominated for ELEVEN Oscars in the upcoming awards. (We saw Hugo last weekend. Unfortunately, it was only playing in 2D, but it was still a wonderful film - very magical!)

But his dog actor, a black doberman called Blackie, was not nominated! Scorcese wrote an op-ed piece in the LA Times about Blackie and his astonishment that she was not nominated. 

Scorcese wrote, "I'm proud of Blackie, who laid it on the line and dared to risk the sympathy of her audience. Let's just say that on the set, she had a fitting nickname: Citizen Canine. The bath scene alone is a masterpiece of underplaying, with Blackie's wonderfully aquiline face accentuated by the 3-D.... I protest the omission of Blackie the Doberman from the first Golden Collar nominations." Scorcese goes on to request that LA Times readers send write-in nominations to the Dog Daily News for Blackie. 

Well, Scorcese has been successful, and Blackie has been added to the list of nominees. Blackie will go up against Uggie who was in both The Artist and Water for Elephants, Cosmo who was in the movie Beginners, Denver who was in the movie 50/50, and Hummer who was in the movie Young Adult. Winners will be announced on February 13. 

Who do you think will win? Have you seen any of the dogs who were nominated? Or do you think they forgot a dog who should have been considered, like Blackie? I've seen Hugo and Water for Elephants. Of the two performances, I think that Blackie was more memorable, so I'd have to go with her as my choice! 

--Tammy

Uggie at the Golden Globes

Have you heard about the new Hollywood sensation? He is Uggie the Dog, star of the film The Artist. (I haven't seen it yet, but it's on my list!) 

On Sunday night, Uggie was in attendance at the Golden Globes. His film won Best Picture - Musical or Comedy. Uggie accompanied the actors on stage to accept the award. He promptly stole the show! One of the actors was accepting the award, but Uggie interrupted by prancing on two legs and then "falling over dead". He was so cute that the audience definitely didn't focus on the speech! You can see the clip over at People.com. It's worth a watch! 

Uggie also starred in Water for Elephants (a film that I have seen, and loved!) He was rescued from the pound by animal trainer Omar Von Muller. There is a Facebook campaign called "Consider Uggie" to get him an Oscar nomination!

Have you seen Uggie's film yet? What is your favorite dog movie, or dog in a movie or TV show? I always loved Eddie in Fraiser myself!(Photo from ABC.net.au)

--Tammy

Betty White and Gayle King's Pet Regrets

If you're an Oprah fan, you know what a dog lover she is.

Oprah is no longer on TV, but I'm blessed to have her with me in my car each day as I drive to work.  My XM radio is tuned to the Oprah channel and, like many other listeners, my favorite show is hosted by Oprah's best friend Gayle King.

Recently, Gayle interviewed the lovely Betty White and, of course, the conversation turned to pets.  Betty White is a tireless animal advocate and serves on the Board of the Morris Animal Foundation, among others.  Those of us who work in veterinary medicine are very familiar with the good works Betty does on behalf of animal cancer, shelter animals, etc.

During Gayle's interview, the conversation turned to----you guessed it---regrets related to pets!

(I only wish we could get them both to write a guest blog for us!)

Anyway, you all know how I feel about Pet Regrets.  I know we all have them and I also believe that, if we talk more openly and frequently about them, we can learn from one another. Then, in the future, we can help each other prevent some of the more nasty regrets we've identified.

As I drove and listened, Gayle asked Betty if she ever regretted spending her life with animals as her children, rather than having children of her own.  Betty said she didn't.  She said she knew early in her career that she would make a choice between being a mother and having a career and she chose the career.  She believes that this choice also made room for animals in her life and she is very grateful that she has been able to help them.

Betty did recall a time where she lost three beloved pets within about 2 months, but even with that heartache, she said she wanted to do it all over again and soon adopted new pets.

Gayle's big regret was that she once gave up a dog because the man in her life didn't like dogs.  Since the relationship didn't last, she now wishes she would have remained true to herself and kept the dog.  Never, she said, will she make that choice again! 

What about you, reader?  Ever give up an animal for a relationship or a life choice of some kind?

If you've learned something from a pet-choice of this nature, please share your wisdom so we can all learn from your experience.

Thanks!

--Laurel

Water for Elephants

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the new movie that's out based on the novel "Water for Elephants". I read the novel several years ago, enjoying it very much. So, I went to see the movie last weekend, and I enjoyed it also.

There are some serious issues about animal abuse that surface in this movie. The scenes are difficult to watch, and I found myself really rooting for the elephant. Rosie the elephant, played by Tai, was the star of the show!

What I didn't know until after I saw the movie is that these elephants are facing some serious issues. In a great blog post by Dr. Donald Smith, Professor of Surgery and Dean Emeritus of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (which was the college that Robert Pattinson's character attended in the movie), he shares that Tai and elephants like her are facing a virus that is killing them. It is called Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV). This disease is apparently fairly new and it can affect baby elephants both in captivity and in the wild. According to Dr. Smith, Tai's "nephew" elephant died at 3 1/2 years of age in February of EEHV.

This disease is a hemorrhaging disease that has no cure or vaccine as of yet. There is research going to learn about this disease and find ways to prevent or manage it. You can learn more about it at the International Elephant Foundation. http://www.elephantconservation.org/elephant-endotheliotropic-herpes-virus/   

I was so impressed with the performance of Tai as Rosie in this movie. I was so sad to hear about this disease. Elephants are a kind of a mystical animal to me. Have you seen the movie?

--Tammy

What If You Witness an Animal's Death?

Word came this weekend of Knut's sudden death.

Remember Knut?  He was the adorable baby polar bear whose mother rejected him.  He was then hand-raised by zookeepers who were often criticized for keeping the bear alive with such intensive human care and bonding.  Many thought the zoo should have simply let nature take its course.

Knut was only four-years-old, but he was the "rock star" of the Berlin zoo.  Thousands of people visited him each year and bought millions of dollars of merchandise bearing his image and name.

According to news reports, about 600 people were at the zoo watching Knut in his compound on the day that he died.  One visitor said Knut drank some water and then seemed to collapse.  He laid still, with his back to the crowd for almost 10 minutes before zookeepers finally screened off the view and told everyone that Knut had died.

It was a very sad day in Berlin and a sad day for all of us who feel attached to these sweet celebrity animals.

While I didn't personally witness Knut's collapse, I can imagine what the spectators felt as they wondered what had happened and subsequently grieved his passing.

Shock.  Disbelief.  Helplessness.  Utter sadness.

And, then, the need to DO SOMETHING.

So, they created makeshift memorials, wrote letters to the paper or the zoo, and bought Knut memorabilia as a remembrance of the bear who brought them such joy.

There was an outpouring of people's grief, as well as support for the zookeepers, who described Knut as their "baby."

Grief always demands expression and the wounds of loss heal more quickly and effectively when that expression finds a meaningful path.

My heart goes out to those hundreds of zoo visitors and workers who were with Knut on his last day.

Have you ever witnessed an animal's unexpected death?  What did you do to heal your feelings of trauma and grief? (Photo David Gannon/AFP)

--Laurel

Pets Vs. Children?

So you may have read about George Clooney's new girlfriend. Her name is Elisabetta Canalis. And she recently stated to the press that her "maternal desires are fully satisfied with my dogs." (She told this to Italian Cosmopolitan and I read about it at People.com. But just Google her name and you'll find many articles on blogs about her statement!) Apparently some of these bloggers are up in arms that her statement is a selfish one. She and Clooney apparently "should" have children... Hmmm?? Really? He is a confirmed bachelor, she is a super model... do they have the right lifestyle for kids? Probably not, at least in my opinion.

This got me to thinking. (**warning: much opinionated-ness ahead.) I am married, age 36, and don't have any children. Nor do I plan to. This is something that my husband and I decided well before we ever actually got married. It was important to both of us. We don't want children. We have cats, three boys now, and we had five when we first moved in together!

My family, in particular, hasn't met our "no kids" idea with rousing approval. One of my sisters tried to convince me that I'd change my mind. She told me that we "had" to have kids... I argued with her for a bit, but finally let it drop. I don't need to justify my own decisions to my family at this point in time. But, there are a lot of people out there who seem to think that married couples are really supposed to have children. (I also understand that people hold religious beliefs that are different from my own, and that's OK. But for me, this is what works!)

Well, in my own personal opinion, my husband and I are better pet parents than we would be human parents. And I like my cats just fine, thank you. I have no desire to have a child other than my cats. But is this selfish of me? Yes, you bet it is. But also in my opinion, being selfish in this way is a good thing. Being selfish and choosing to not bring a child into this world is OK at this point in our time. There are too many humans on the planet already (and animals probably too...) and one more from me isn't necessary. I think that George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis are probably being selfish too, but again, that's not a bad thing here.

So, this is a bit of a controversial subject. There's a lot of chatter about Ms. Canalis' statement. What is your take on the matter? Do people have a responsibility to have children? Or is it OK for a couple (like my husband and I, or like George Clooney and his partner) to choose to have just pets instead? (And I never thought I would ever be able to lump myself together with George Clooney! Photo is NOT Elisabetta Canalis! Image from istockphoto.com)

--Tammy

Pet Goats?!

So, it seems there is a new trend starting in Hollywood these days. It's been a while since I did a post about celebrities and their pets, but I never thought I'd be writing about celebrities and their pet ... goats?!

I guess goats are becoming more popular in the Hollywood set. I never thought I'd see it, quite frankly. Of course, a few years ago, I would never have been one to think that goats are super cute either. But, that was before I lived on a farm... a farm with the cutest ever pygmy goats. No, really - cutest babies ever! I don't know if I'll ever convince my husband we need a dog, but I might be able to talk him into a goat! (Even he thinks they're cute!)

So, in my web browsing, celebrity watching travels, I've come across a couple of photos and stories of celebs with their goats! It seems that Kelly Clarkson, of American Idol fame, has two pet goats - Billy Joel and  Nitrous. She got Billy Joel as a Christmas present, and just recently got another gift from her mom - the baby Nitrous. (See the photos of the goats posted to Kelly's Facebook page.)

The other celebrity that has a pet goat is Tori Spelling. Her goat apparently lives in their house with them, according to the article at PeoplePets! She walks the pygmy goat on a leash like a dog, and it joins their household menagerie which includes a chicken, a corn snake, a bearded dragon, guinea pigs, and dogs.

Now, I really do love goats, but I've lived near them. They don't smell very good, and I certainly wouldn't want one in my house. Outside near my house is great, and I'd totally have goats if I were in the spot to do so (apartment living - not such a good setting for goats!) It looks like Kelly Clarkson has hers in a more traditional goat setting, while Tori Spelling has her goat as an indoor pet...

What do you think of these non-traditional pets? Would you have a goat or a chicken as an indoor pet? (The goat pictured is a very young pygmy goat. He lived on the farm where my apartment was, and he came with me to the CSU Veterinary Hospital, where I was working at the time, one day for a visit.)

--Tammy

New ways of grieving

I read an article a couple of weeks ago that got me thinking. In this new age of texting, social media, twittering, facebooking, etc. there are new ways of grieving. The article wasn't specifically about pet loss, but it applies I think.

One example they gave in the article was about Patrick Swayze's wife, Lisa Niemi. She is still sending text messages to him. It was her tradition to text "I love you" to him before boarding a flight. She said, "Either somewhere out there he received [the message], or someone's going, 'Somebody loves me!' And you know what? I figured it was a win-win situation".

YouTube is another "new" medium to help people grieve. Many people are posting tribute videos as memorials to people in their lives who have died. Even a big name star like Angelina Jolie has done this. She and her brother created a web video tribute to their mother. Online forums are another way that people are using technology to help them grieve.

In another article I came across recently, celebrities have taken to twittering about the death of their pets. Jersey Shore's Sammi tweeted about the "worst day of my life" after making the decision to euthanize her dog, Abby. Kelly Osbourne also has tweeted about the death of a pet.

What about you? Do you think you'd use one of these more non-traditional ways to help you with your grief? Can you think of a ritual you have that you'd continue even after your pet died?

--Tammy

Rescue is the new breed

I have a vice. It's following celebrity news. It has no "real" purpose in my own life, but I enjoy reading about celebrities.

I came across a story last week at PeoplePets.com. Melissa Etheridge, one of my favorite singers, did an interview about her family, including her two rescue Labs, Cooper and Scout. She found her pups from a lab rescue in Southern California. Her son apparently did the research about what kind, and found the rescue.

Her son, Beckett (11 years old) looked at pictures on the rescue's site, and found Cooper and Scout. One of them was rescued from Taiwan, while the other was local, and saved from certain euthanasia. Etheridge said that she knew they would get dogs from a rescue. She had seen a bumper sticker recently that said, "Rescue is the new breed." And she agreed with that sentiment!

I really liked those words too! I know that when Mike and I decide to get another kitty, we'll adopt from a rescue or shelter. What about you? Do you think Rescue is the new breed?

--Tammy

The Golden Girl at the Morris Animal Foundation

Most of you already know that Betty White is an animal lover. She gives and donates much of her time and talent to all sorts of worthy causes. Today, I was happy to learn that this Golden Girl also understands the importance of good research by becoming a trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation (www.morrisanimalfoundation.org).

Established in 1948, the Morris Foundation improves the health and well being of pets and wildlife by funding humane, ethical studies and then disseminating information about these studies. In fact, the Morris Animal Foundation assists veterinary schools all around the world and has donated over 35 million dollars to more than 1100 studies to improve the quality of life for animals. Since the word "research" can alienate people, it was nice to see a celebrity like Betty White educating the public about the importance of compassionate and ethical research in veterinary medicine.

What do you think about research on animals is general? Opinions about this probably run all over the map but what is most important to you? Would you ever consider donating your time/money to a group that does research on animals? (Betty White also endorses Debby Morehead's book, A Special Place for Charlee. Debby is one of the owner's of World by the Tail, Inc.)

--Dana

Lost Star Jorge Garcia Loses Nunu

I am (was?) a huge fan of the TV show lost. One of my favorite characters and actors is Hugo, played by Jorge Garcia. He is a blogger, and I have really enjoyed reading his blog about life on the island of Hawaii while filming lost.

Many of his posts featured his little dog, Nunu, and she even had a cameo appearance in an episode this season.

Sadly, little Nunu has died. As Garcia was preparing to go to the airport to leave Hawaii, Nunu got away from him and was struck by a car and killed. He says, "She died in my arms." Nunu will be buried in a pet garden in Hawaii.

Send out a good thought for Garcia. I'm sure this is a very difficult time for him. Being in the spotlight probably doesn't make loss and grief any easier! (photo of Nunu from Garcia's blog)

--Tammy

Sad news for John Travolta

This report came out yesterday. Tragedy has once again struck the family of actor, John Travolta. Just a little more than a year ago, his son Jett died.

Now, the family's dogs have been killed in an accident at an airport. Two dogs were being walked (on leash) from the plane they had just arrived on (with members of the Travolta family). A service truck struck and killed both dogs. The truck was apparently approaching the plane in order to service it and did not see the dogs.

There aren't a lot more details about what happened, but suffice it to say - this is a horrible tragedy and so sad for this family. Our thoughts go out to the Travoltas.

Have you flown with your pets? I never have. I think I would be a worried wreck the whole time, wondering if they were OK in the hold. There was another story recently about a pet that was lost during a flight. No news if that pet was ever found again!

--Tammy

CSI Veterinarians

CSI (Crime Scene Investigation)...it's been one of the most popular television shows in the country for over 8 years (and CSI Miami, as well as CSI New York). I'm sure that many of you have seen at least one episode of them over the years. So what would you think about a show called, "CSI Veterinarians?"

There is a new and emerging field in the veterinary world known as "Veterinary Forensic Medicine." Yep.... it's precisely what you think it is. Veterinarians use remains of animals to understand and piece together the details of an animal's death. Dr. Melinda Merk, the senior director of veterinary forensics for the ASPCA, believes that this field will continue to gain popularity over the next few years which is good news for our furry friends.

When authorities were trying to prosecute Michael Vick for his illegal dog fighting ring, Dr. Merk was one of the star witnesses for offering proof of his crimes. After excavating the graves of of many of the pit- bulls and analyzing their remains, she was able to piece together the horrific details of their deaths (some had been hanged, some tortured then beaten to death, while others were shot). Her expertise was the primary reason why Michael Vick finally admitted his guilt and was sent to prison as a result.

Merk says that her career got started because she wanted to help suffering animals and bring those who hurt them to justice. Back in 2000, the state of Georgia passed a state law making animal cruelty a felony. Merck had been running a veterinary hospital in Roswell, GA at the time. She knew that this state law would be no good unless people understood how to enforce it. She started out by first working with human forensic experts  to learn  how to collect evidence, handle various fluids, and how to interpret bullet trajectories. She also learned how to examine claw marks which can indicate an animal's struggle with a perpetrator. Today, Dr. Merk is one of the most sought after experts in veterinary medicine. (for more details you can visit www.VeterinaryPracticeNews.com).

Next spring, the University of Florida will begin a certificate program as part of its on-line master's degree in forensic science. Dr. Merk is helping to develop this program which will teach veterinarians how to recognize crimes against animals and give them tools to do something about it.

What are your thoughts about this? (I think it's fantastic and long, long overdue), Would any of you ever consider working in a field like this? Wouldn't it be wonderful to finally be able to punish those who abuse and torture animals? Let's hear your opinions!

--Dana

Twilight Star adopts rescue dogs

I haven't had a celebrity story in a while. I have to own up to the fact that I'm a fan of Twilight. I've read all four books a couple times each. I've seen the movie Twilight in all its cheesiness several times, and I saw New Moon in the theatre recently.

I was pleased to see this story about Rachelle Lefevre adopting two dogs from a shelter who were in danger of being euthanized without adoption. (Lefevre stars as the very evil vampire, Victoria.) On December 17, Lefevre lost her dog Honey. She tweeted on December 30 that she was planning to adopt a new dog, and she has wound up with two!

She wound up taking home Momma Bear, a five year old Cocker Spaniel, and Jack Sprat, a four year old  miniature poodle. She is very happy with her new pooches, who she said she had an instant connection with. (Full story (and photo from) at peoplepets.com)

Have you ever adopted from a shelter? I haven't personally, but I've been with friends who were adopting. I almost wound up with a grey kitty named Olive who was a very small version of my Oscar. She was very sweet - reaching through the bars. I couldn't take her home, but I'm sure she found a great home!

--Tammy

Faith the dog inspires veterans

I'm sure you may have seen Faith, the two-legged dog before. Her story is all over the internet. In fact, I think I may have actually blogged about her in the past!

Her story is so inspiring though, that it's worth sharing it again! Faith was born with only her two back legs. She has adapted to walking upright. Her owners are now letting Faith visit with injured veterans to inspire them.

--Tammy

Oprah and Bo

Bo Obama may very well be the most famous dog around! He was on the Oprah Winfrey special about Christmas at the White House recently. He behaved himself very well, and gave high-fives all around! Enjoy this video of Oprah meeting Bo!

--Tammy

Fido and Abe

An acquaintence of mine (a Republican!) was grousing about the 'Obama dog' the other day, ranting about how the Obamas have 'used' the dog to get publicity.  "But most Presidents have had dog," I protested.  And that got me thinking...have they?

I did a limited google search and found a blog about Lincoln that had a really interesting story about his dog Fido.  It seems Lincoln was very bonded to Fido but didn't feel he would be happy at the White House, so he found him another home, stipulating that he be an indoor dog and treated like a member of the family.  The Lincolns even gave the new family their old couch that Fido liked to sleep on!

When Lincoln was assassinated, Fido was taken to the memorial and, following the days of mourning, postcards with Fido's photo on them were very popular items.  If you ever run across one today, grab it as they are valuable collector's items!

We tend to think that our love for our pets is a recent development in our society, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  Now I'm wondering if George Washington had a pet? (photo from the Abraham Lincoln Research site)

--Laurel

 

Come on Down!

Bob Barker, of Price is Right fame, has always been an advocate for pets. He always closed his shows with "Have your pet spayed or neutered". Recently, he donated $1 million to Drury University, his alma mater, to establish a professorship on animal rights. He hopes it will lead to a full undergraduate degree program in animal rights.

Barker graduated from Drury in 1947. He supported the professorship in hopes that the school can "eventually offer a program of studies that would train them to be animal right activists and to respect animals."

Barker said, "I think some students would become full-fledged animal rights activists. Some will become lawyers and doctors who will always be interested in animal rights. And some will have more respect for animals."

Last year, Barker gave the school another $1 million to establish the Drury University Forum on Animal Rights. That donation led to a course on animal ethics. Barker has donated money to other schools for animal rights law courses including Harvard Law School.

Obviously Bob Barker puts his money where his mouth is and supports the causes that mean the most to him. And have for many years. He named the new professorship at Drury in honor of his late wife, Dorothy Jo.

What do you think of Barker's commitment to animal rights? I think it's really great that he has made these donations over the years and continues to do so. His legacy will continue even after he has passed away!

--Tammy

Petey the Pit Bull

My husband was talking about The Little Rascals the other night. I grew up without a TV, so I missed out on seeing many of the iconic shows that most people know well. I don't recall ever seeing the Little Rascals, so Mike pulled up some old videos online and we had fun watching them.

One thing that I didn't know was that Petey, the canine member of the gang, was a "pit bull" - an American Pit Bull Terrier. Pete the Pup was just as much a member of the gang as any of the kids. (He was played by a number of different dogs over the years.) We happened upon a video clip of the story of Petey which I found so fun and interesting (see below!). I learned that Petey helped the kids in many situations - flying kites, saving them from drowning, and merely providing comfort.

I loved watching the clips of the kids with Petey. The dog obviously loved those kids (all of the dogs I should say!) They interacted with him as if he was their buddy, their friend, and not "just a dog".

I really enjoyed learning that Pete was a Pit Bull - the dog of so much controversy today. He was much loved - not only by the actual actors working with him, but by everyone watching the show on TV. I'm sorry to see that this breed has taken such a bad rap. I know there are cases where bad things HAVE happened, but overall, this breed does not deserve to have such a bad name in my opinion.

Next up - I'll have to watch some episodes of Lassie I guess! (Another show I have never seen!) Enjoy watching the clips of Petey in the video below!

--Tammy

Fastest man adopts fastest animal

Last week, the world's fastest man, Olympic and world champion sprinter, Usain Bolt, adopted a cheetah cub in Kenya's Nairobi National Park. (Now, if Bolt isn't the perfect name for a sprinter, I don't know what is!)

Bolt and another champion, Welsh hurdler Colin Jackson, visited Nairobi National Park last week to help remind Kenyans that it is their "civic duty" to help preserve the country's wildlife. The park's director said "it was the first time in history where the fastest animal and the fastest man will meet." The baby cheetah that Bolt adopted doesn't look like it could beat him in a foot race right now, but I'm guessing, give the baby a couple years, and he could probably outrun Bolt!

I really liked hearing about Bolt and Jackson doing this! Hopefully their participation will help in a country that faces huge challenges. The baby cheetah will not live with Bolt - the adoption is a formality and Bolt will provide funds to care for the cub each year. (Full story here.)

--Tammy

American Idol judge saves animal sanctuary

Well, who knew? American Idol judge, Simon Cowell, has a heart afterall! Cowell is the "mean" judge on the show. He lets the contestants know how he really feels about them without mincing words. He can sometimes (often) come across as quite cruel (if right!)

It seems, however, that Cowell is an animal lover. I'd heard rumors that he had donated money to animal-related causes before, but this story is the first I'd heard to be true. Actress Linda Blair (of Exorcist fame) has a non-profit shelter called WorldHeart Foundation. They care for up to 50 pets at a time, and has been in danger of closing due to lack of funds.

Enter Simon Cowell. He heard about the plight of her shelter through a mutual friend, and he came to the rescue by donating $30,000 to keep it open. He reportedly said, "I think what Linda is doing is incredible. Seeing pictures of the dogs makes you realize what a fantastic job she's doing. When we spoke, I was really impressed by her passion and commitment, and offered to help her out financially."

We'll add this to the suggested "Good News" channel! I love hearing this kind of news. I like being able to share it here with you as well!

--Tammy

Celebrity pet names

As you all may know by now, I love to read about celebrities. It's my vice! It has NO affect on my life, whatsoever, but I enjoy reading the outrageous things celebrities do and say.

I thought it might be fun to take a look at what some celebrities have named their pets. We hear about the crazy things they name their children (Apple, Zuma, Peanut, anyone?) but we don't often hear about their pet names. Do they go as crazy there as they do with children?! Here are a few to think about...

Jennifer Hudson has three pomeranians. They are called Oscar, Grammy, and Dreamgirl. I guess that's fairly appropriate. She won the Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls!

Mariah Carey has a Jack Russell called Jackson P. Muttley. Pretty cute name!

Adam Sandler has an English Bulldog named Matzoball. His last dog, who died in 2006, was Meatball.

Selma Blair has a one-eyed rescued Jack Russell, called Wink. (I love to hear about celebrities who have rescued dogs! And dogs with "issues"!)

Sandra Bullock also has rescue and special needs dogs. They have Poppy, a three legged dog and Ruby, a dog born with only two legs.

The list could go on and on! It seems that pet names aren't quite as weird as baby names in the world of celebrities though. Or maybe, it's just more acceptable to name your pet something "weird"!

Joss Stone has Dusty Springfield.
Kelly Osbourne has Piglet and Boris.
Minnie Driver has Bubba (a more common pet name!)
Sienna Miller has Porgy and Bess.
Tom Cruise has Joseph. (an odd choice for a pet name I think...)
Halle Berry has Bumper and Petey.

I LOVE names. I always have - when I was a girl, I'd play school, and my favorite part was making up the names of my make-believe students. (First, middle, and last names for all!) I've had quite a menagerie of pets too. Beau-Beau was a French poodle (I didn't name him though - he was my childhood pet!), Melvin was a stray tom cat who attached himself to me. I called him Melvin because he wouldn't let anyone touch him like Jack Nicholson's character in As Good As It Gets (Melvin.) Lissy - aptly named after a mischievious little girl in a book I'd read. And now we have Henry, Oscar, and Ben. All fitting somehow! (I think I pre-destined Oscar to be a grouch though!)

What's the craziest pet name you've heard? Or have you named your pet something weird? (photo of Sandra Bullock from People.com)

Ozzy Osbourne donates police dog

The police force in Muncie, Indiana is about to receive a new K-9 partner. They had to retire their last police dog, Rover, at 13 years old. They ran into problems with funding to get a new dog.

It seems that this is when Ozzy Osbourne stepped in to help. Yep, that Ozzy! His son, Jack, had apparently worked with the team in Muncie on a very short-lived TV program called "Armed and Famous". He kept up a good relationship with them even once the show was cancelled. When Jack heard about the troubles in Muncie, he asked his famous father to help.

The Osbourne family are all dog lovers. Ozzy agreed immediately to help Jack's police force friends out. They have purchased a new K-9 for the force and he is being trained in Denver, CO currently. They plan to name the dog, drum-roll... Ozzy. The donation not only covers the purchase and training of the new dog, but will cover food, vet expenses, and other things so that the Muncie tax-payers won't have to take on the burden.

I really love hearing about celebrities doing great things like this. I was never an Ozzy fan until lately. I think I'm becoming one! Have you heard of other things celebrities have done to help animal-related causes? (photo from telegraph.co.uk)

--Tammy

Bubbles the Chimp

On Monday, Laurel wrote about Michael Jackson and his animals. Well, I wondered what had become of the famous Bubbles, the chimp.

Apparently, a lot of people have wondered that since the passing of Michael Jackson. I got an email in my inbox today from PeoplePets.com. They gave us an update about Bubbles!

He is living the life of luxury in a primate sanctuary in Florida. He is now 26 years old and makes his home at the Center for Great Apes. He has lived there since 2005. Jackson intended to visit Bubbles in his home there, but unfortunately, he never made it.

The director of Bubbles' home says that he is a very nice animal. He hangs out with about six other chimps and has one special friend named Sam (a 40 year old chimp).

Chimps can live to be about 60 years old, so Bubbles conceivably has a long life ahead of him. The cost of his care is coming from donations at this point. If interested, you can donate and "adopt" Bubbles!

Can you think of other iconic animals you would like to know what happened to? Chimps have a much longer life-span than other animals. I'm sure we've lost many animal stars without even hearing about it. It was good to hear an update about Bubbles. In the early 80s, I remember being enthralled by the fact that Michael Jackson had a chimp as a pet! (Full story at PeoplePets.com. Photo from Center for Great Apes. You can read more about Bubbles there as well.)

--Tammy

TV's The Closer deals with pet loss

As a general rule, you don't often see TV personalities dealing with pet loss. I don't know if it is a taboo, but The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick, faced a loss in last night's episode. If you haven't watched the show yet, and want to, stop reading now as there are spoilers.

Miss Kitty is the cat who plays the role of Kitty on the show. She has been an active part of the show for quite some time, and has played an active role. Miss Kitty grew ill, and the show's creator James Duff decided rather than trying to replace Miss Kitty, they would write the illness into the show. They have dealt with the diagnosis and the decision to euthanize Kitty. On last night's episode, Brenda [Sedgwick] euthanized Kitty.

Duff said, "It's part of everyday life for a lot of people. She [Sedgwick] actually broke down weeping one day and had to pull herself together to go back and film the final scene. You just don't know how to deal with these emotions sometimes."

Miss Kitty died just shortly after the show filmed the episode. Rest Well, Miss Kitty. Kudos to The Closer for choosing to deal with a very emotional issue such as pet loss. Have you watched this episode? Or have you seen other TV shows deal with issues surrounding pet illness and loss? (Full story here.)

--Tammy

Sad Loss for Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart has lost another pet. Her cat, Mozart, passed away yesterday at the age of 19.

Stewart is well-known for having dogs such as Chows, and French bulldogs, but her cat remained out of the spotlight it seems. He was a lynx Himalayan, a rare breed from what I read.

Stewart wrote on Twitter this morning that Mozart has been laid to rest next to her chow Paw Paw, who passed away in April 2008. Stewart also lost her new chow pup Ghengis Khan on March 6 in an explosion at the kennel.

Our thoughts are with you Ms. Stewart!

Rest Well Mozart!

(Full story at PeoplePets. Photo from The Martha Blog)

--Tammy

Sad News for Oprah

Remember about 10 days ago, I told you that Oprah had adopted a new puppy? Well, apparently, she adopted two puppies, and tragedy has struck.

Ivan, the second pup she chose to adopt, has apparently died from Parvovirus (learn more about Parvovirus here.) The first dog she chose to adopt, Sadie - from the same litter as Ivan, also is fighting off the virus and is gravely ill. (story here) Just last week, Oprah shared Sadie with her audience and the TV viewers. While showing off Sadie, the shelter (PAWS) brought out more of the pups from the litter, and Oprah was deciding on-air whether she might adopt another pup. She apparently chose to adopt Ivan.

On March 12, she had to rush him to an emergency pet hospital. Ivan didn't make it unfortunately. Sadie is reportedly doing better at this time. Please send out good energy, prayers (whatever you might believe in!) to Oprah and her Sadie. Rest well, Ivan.

--Tammy

Oprah adopts a puppy

Yesterday it was reported that Oprah Winfrey has adopted a new puppy!! As she promised last year after doing a show on puppy mills, the dog she chose came from a shelter in Chicago. (PAWS in Chicago)

The dog, an 8-week old cocker spaniel, was called Amanda by the shelter workers, but they didn't know if Oprah would keep that name or change it. (I'll keep you posted! Hopefully there will be photos of the new puppy soon!)

I think we all know that Oprah is a dog lover. She lost her beloved Sophie just last year (pictured left with Oprah). She also tragically lost a dog who choked on a rubber ball in 2007.

The story of her new puppy has made BIG headlines with stories on the US Magazine, UPI, MSNBC, and even the Huffington Post.

Which celebrities do you enjoy seeing out and about with their dogs? I particularly like shots of Julia Roberts out with her big, black dogs (instead of the small, purse-size pups we so often see with celebrities!)

--Tammy

Rest Well, Loki

Just yesterday, I read a story on People.com about Mickey Rourke. He has had a comeback of sorts this year with his movie The Wrestler. He won a Golden Globe award last month for his acting. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his dogs, saying, "I'd like to thank all my dogs, the ones who are here and the ones who aren't here anymore."

In this article, he states that his dogs saved his life during some dark days. He said, "I sort of self- destructed and everything came out about fourteen years or so ago... the wife had left, the career was over... The dogs were there when no one else was there."

Sadly, this morning, I read that his 18 year-old chihuahua, Loki had passed away. Loki accompanied Rourke to many red carpet events and has been famously photographed with Rourke many times. I know that Loki will be missed. Rest well, Loki. And take good care Mr. Rourke!

You can see more photos of Mr. Rourke and his dogs at PeoplePets.com.

(Photo from jezebel.com)

--Tammy

Celebrities and their pets

One of my vices in life is celebrity watching! I love reading celebrity gossip, checking out the latest photos, and news stories about celebrities. It has absolutely no bearing on my life, but I enjoy it!

One of the most fun things is seeing celebrities with their pets! And People.comhas apparently noticed that people do enjoy that! There is a brand new site up called PeoplePets.com. Their cute tagline is Sit. Stay. Play. Not only are there celebrity pets featured, but you can join the site and have your own pets featured! So far, it appears that it will be a fun, cute site to check out regularly!

The photo I found recently of a celebrity with her pets that I liked best was this one of Julia Roberts and her dogs! This was taken on Friday. I like the "normalness" of the picture. She isn't carrying her little purse sized dogs - she has big, black dogs! Love it! (And as you may remember - big, black dogs don't always find good home! Way to go Julia!!)

 
(Photo from Jezebel.com)

Celebrity animal news

OK - you may have guessed this by now, but one of my "vices" is celebrity gossip. It has absolutely no affect on my life, but I enjoy it.

I found a couple of animal-related stories this week that I thought I would share with you. Both of them pertain to Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz (again!)

People.com posted a story quoting Pete Wentz as saying "Kinda weird to eat your dog. But I got past it." Huh?! Well, turns out that Pete had a birthday recently, and he had a life size replica of his dog Hemingway made into a cake! It is a really amazing looking cake. But wouldn't that be too weird for you?! 

In other Simpson/Wentz news: they adopted a 10 week old puppy earlier this week, named Rigby. She joins their family including Hemingway. I hope their new baby-to-be does OK with their pets! They seem to be good pet-parents at least!

No word as to where they got this puppy. I hope they did some responsible research, but who knows? She is a cutey for sure!

(Pictures from People.com and Friendsorenemies.com)