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Cats & Dogs Adopted at Premiere of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Grace Sydney — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:50:03 +0000

The Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore premiere recently gave its stars a chance to pause for a good cause. As a steady stream of celebrities strolled the red (or, in this case, green) carpet on their way inside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, each took time to use their star wattage to shine a spotlight on dog adoption.

Not only are shelter animals showcased in the silver screen spy spoof through a partnership with the ASPCA, Examiner.com reports that 30 dogs and 30 cats from Bark Avenue Foundation and D Cups Saving Tea Cups enjoyed lapping up the limelight on the day the new comedy caper was unleashed for a Hollywood audience.

After posing for pix with the canine and kitty counterparts in the movie, the stars– including James Marsden, Christina Applegate, Michael Clarke Duncan and Joe Pantoliani– greeted some four-legged fans who were hoping to find a forever home at the event. Several of the adoptable dogs and cats who attended the premiere now have starring roles in the lives of loving families, including a four-year-old brindle Chihuahua named Lady Gaga, whose new doting Dad is none other than comedian Paul Rodriguez! See the comedy star and his new fur baby, along with the rest of the movie’s cast, in the clip from D Cups Saving Tea Cups, below:

For more information regarding Bark Avenue Foundation:

visit www.barkavenuefoundation.org

For more information regarding D Cups Saving Tea Cups:

visit www.dcupssavingteacups.com

James Marsden at the premiere of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore with the German Shepherd who portrays Diggs onscreen:

Joe Pantoliano with the dog who plays D.O.G’s tail-wagging tech expert in the movie, Peek:

Michael Clarke Duncan with Sam the sheepdog:

Photos courtesy Picapp

Matilda The Algonquin Cat Celebrating 15th Birthday

Grace Sydney — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:45:01 +0000

The Algonquin Hotel– its very name conjures up images of the literary luminaries of The Round Table, icons of both stage and screen, and one permanent, purring patron.

Back in the 1930’s, when the padded paws of a rain-soaked stray cat strolled into the lobby of the New York hotel, and straight into the heart of Frank Cage– the proprietor of The Algonquin at the time– the tradition of The Algonquin Hotel’s resident cat was born. In keeping with tradition, each male has been dubbed with the name Hamlet– a majestic moniker bequeathed by legendary actor John Barrymore to the first feline to call 59 West 44th Street home– while each female has answered to the name Matilda.

To celebrate the 15th birthday of the hotel’s most recent resident ragdoll cat, The Algonquin will welcome pet-loving party attendees on August 11, 2010 for Matilda’s annual birthday bash. Hosted by John Fulton, the the presenter of Animal Planet’s upcoming show Must Love Cats, the feline-themed fete will feature kitties on the catwalk in the hotel lobby during a Meow Wear fashion show that will be the cat’s pajamas; a birthday reception and a North Shore mobile adoption unit with felines hoping to find a forever home.

A happening with heart, a $25 minimum entrance donation is requested to benefit the North Shore Animal League America. To RSVP to Matilda, e-mail matildaalgonquincat@algonquinhotel.com.

A look back at last year’s celebrations:

Watch Matilda and the meowing models of the Westchester Cat Club get groomed to purrfection for last year’s birthday celebration in the following CatChannel.com clip:

Photo courtesy The Algonquin Hotel

Pancake: Shih Tzu

Paris and John — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:30:02 +0000

My Dog’s Name: Pancake

Age of My Dog: unknown (9?)

Breed: Shih Tzu

What I Love About My Dog: I rescued Pancake from a puppymill where she had spent years breeding. Her sweet face had me driving almost 2 hours to meet her. Although she had been abused and never loved she never stopped wagging her tail and I couldn’t leave without her. I took her to the vet and her she had tumors and cancer. They were able to save her and she became a puppy for the first time! It took 2 weeks to play with toys & a year to finally walk on a leash. Fast forward 2 years and she is my shadow. I just finished a 4 month overseas internship. I worried how she would be but since I live with my parents, she wasn’t displaced from home and did well. When I came home, she saw me she and started crying, wagging her tail (I call her wiggle butt) and followed me around, adorable! If she knows I am home and can’t find me she barks and cries until she can find me. It is amazing how a dog who never knew love is able to be so happy and love people so much.

–contributed by Kristen in Tennessee

Facebook Friday, July 30, 2010

Paris and John — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:11:12 +0000

Are you looking for Facebook fan pages of special interest to dog lovers? Every week in this Facebook Friday column, we highlight four Facebook fan pages for pet lovers. If you have some favorites we’ve missed, be sure to leave us a comment below or post a note on Dogtipper.com’s Facebook wall!

Bowser Beer

The sponsor of this week’s Wednesday Wag Swag giveaway, Bowser Beer gives you the chance to crack open a cold one for your dog–a beverage that’s safe (no alcohol, no carbonation) and healthy (with added glucosamine). Look for fun fan photos and pictures of the three busy dogs of 3 Busy Dogs, the family-owned company behind this beverage.

Last Chance Highway

The official fan page for the Animal Planet show, this fan page includes info on the show and its broadcast schedule (it’s an eight-part series), updates on some of the animals seen on the show, and lots of reader interaction (just click on the “Just others” link.)

The Official Fan Page of Sebastian Saraceno

In previous Facebook Friday columns, we’ve shared the fan pages for Pit Boss and Shorty Rossi and Hercules but this fan page is specifically for “Pit Boss” costar Sebastian Saraceno. Follow the actor (he’s very active on the fan page) and this popular Animal Planet show which also includes updates on some of the pitties seen in previous episodes.

Posh Pets Bakery & Boutique

This DFW Metroplex boutique and online store features all-natural, human-grade, homemade pet treats. Look for special coupon codes on Posh Pets’ fan page, news of special events this bakery will be participating in, and plenty of cute pet photos from fans!

Surfpet Kicks Off Weekly Caption Contest

Paris and John — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:21:47 +0000

Get out those pet photos…it’s time for a pet photo contest over at Surfpet.com! The new Weekly Caption Contest is looking for funny, cute, and amazing pet photos for the weekly Facebook contest. They’d like fans to post photos to the Surfpet Facebook fan page and also to caption other fans’ photos. They’ll be picking winners weekly both for best photo and best caption!

Prizes: If your photo is selected, Surfpet.com will make a $25 donation in your name to the pet charity of your choice. Also, the best caption selected every week will win a $25 donation in your name to your favorite pet charity.

How to Enter:

visit the Surfpet Facebook fan page and upload your photo or leave a comment and add captions to other fans’ photos

Ask the Trainer: I’m Worried About My Dog & Kids

Paris and John — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:58:37 +0000

We’ve got another great Ask the Trainer column from Colleen Safford from New York Walk & Train, named “Best of NY” by New York Magazine. Parents, don’t miss this column! Colleen is not just a dog lover and trainer but a conscientious mom as she tackles this difficult question:

I have a 3-year-old spayed Boxer/Shar pei mix that I adopted from a rescue three years ago. She was teased really bad by her previous owners children. I have three children and she loves them to death. However..she does not like their friends or strangers. She has nipped three times and then she finally drew blood the fourth time. I put her in a crate when other kids are here but this last time she bit a child who put her fingers through our fence to try and pet her. Please help!!

I am very sorry to hear this. I am tackling this question with heart. As a mommy and dog lover, I know how difficult it can be to manage children and dogs safely. It’s something that takes 24/7 diligence.

This is a very serious situation. Your dog’s last incident tells us that she feels her previous three warnings were not heard or respected.

Should she continue down this same path, it is likely that her reaction will only become stronger. She is trying very hard to tell everyone that she is very uncomfortable. So, it’s your job to be sure she feels she is being kept safe.

I am very happy to hear that you are using the crate. I am not sure where the crate is located, but I want to recommend that it is behind a closed door, and that all children understand that she is NOT to be disturbed while she is in there. This is her safe haven, quiet place and refuge from the kid tornado (haha).

Dog Body Language: I know you mention that she loves your own children, but please visit a website called www.doggonesafe.com. This organization helps teach children and adults to understand dog body language and the early warning signs of stress (lip licking, yawning etc) . We often miss them. Everyone in your home should be very well versed in dog body language.

Appropriate use of the crate:

1. While she is in there, she should have things to work on. She can eat her meals through enrichment or food stuffed toys like the Kong.

2. Teach her a “hop in” or “go to your room” command, where she learns to hop in the crate on her own (without be physically prompted or dragged by the collar)

3. She should be crated randomly each day, not just when children are there. This will help her feel more comfortable in there and not connect the crate directly with the presence of children.

4. ANTICIPATE when children are going to arrive. 5-10 minutes BEFORE their arrival, she should “hop in” her crate.

Yard/Fence: She must not be left in the yard on her own where people can approach the fence and reach at her. As she exhibited last time, she is not comfortable with people reach toward her. When you are outdoors with her, she should be on a long line where she can move about freely, but not so much that she can reach the fence. While you are out there, you should let her wander on her leash and then call her to come to you and reward her for doing so. In the case when people are passing your home, call her to you (before she sees them!) and give her a treat. Really work on her ability to stop what she is doing and COME to you.

Training: Working even on her most basic of obedience every day and reinforcing good behavior (with treats, toss of a toy, praise etc) can really help her confidence flourish. You should ask her to sit before giving her attention, come to you – just to check in and get a yummy treat or pet on the head, play fetch, but ask her to sit before you toss the toy each and every time.

I will also suggest that you work with a humane trainer (www.apdt.org) to help her with some of her child anxieties. Teaching her the presence of strange children is actually a really fun thing! You need to work with someone who is skilled though in behavior modification and does not use any correction based methods.

Exercise: This is something that I cannot emphasize enough. I know you are a busy mother of three, but this doggy really needs some good heart pumping exercise every day. Not a leisurely walk, but a nice game of fetch, off leash play etc. Hiring a buddy (dog walker) to get her that daily exercise is something I would highly recommend if you are unable with all the mommy duties to do this with her.

Never punish her: It is also very important that your dog is never punished for letting out a growl, lifting her lip, or barking at children. Doing so, only reinforces for her that things get bad when children are around; and further reminds her of why she doesn’t like them. Instead, realize that she is simply trying to tell people, “I need help. I feel a need to defend myself here.”

Rehoming: This is a difficult topic to address; particularly so in an open forum where people are sure to have strong opinion. When I work with families there are times where we need to discuss the possibility of finding a new home for a dog. A home where the dog will feel less anxious and those in the dog’s life will be safer.

A lot of the above advice is what trainers refer to as management. Management prevents behavior from being displayed and undesired habits from becoming stronger. The reality is however that management systems can fail (i.e. – kids let dog out of crate or go into the room). This is why training her to be comfortable around children is important.

I do NOT have enough information about your particular situation. This is certainly something that is NEVER taken lightly or without hours of developing a relationship with a family, the dog and getting a true sense of the full situation. The safety of the children and mental health of the dog are top priority. Please seek out a supportive and skilled trainer to work with you through this.

I am sending positive thoughts to your pup and your family.

Rochester Fur Ball, Rochester, NY, Aug. 28, 2010

Grace Sydney — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:59:22 +0000

Pet lovers are puttin’ on the ritz for Rovers at the first ever Rochester Fur Ball this August. The black tie affair promises to be a pet-friendly fete, complete with a dog spa, animal communicator, an animal masseuse and a buffet for our barking buddies, while pet parents indulge in dancing, a dinner buffet, a raffle and silent and live auctions featuring signed celebrity memorabilia from Hollywood legends and today’s top stars, offered by Autograph Store Charity Fundraising :

Rolling Stones Autographed Guitar
Taylor Swift Autographed Guitar
Motely Crue Autographed Drumhead
Frank Sinatra Autographed Record Album
Michael Jackson Autographed “Thriller” Record Album
Star Wars Cast Autographed 16X20 Photo
Lost Cast Autographed 16X20 Photo
Sex & The City Cast Autographed 16X20 Photo
Harry Potter Cast Autographed 11X14 Photo
Twilight Cast Autographed 11X14 Photo
Al Pacino Autographed 11X14 Photo
Ringo Starr Autographed 8X10 Photo
Muhammad Ali Autographed 16X20 Photo
Mickey Mantle Autographed 16X20 Photo
Sylvester Stallone Autographed Boxing Glove

A hound-loving happening with heart, proceeds from the gala benefit Animal Service League, Verona Street Animal Society and Monroe County Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

Tickets ($100 for each human attendee, $35 for each tail-wagging chum) are on sale through August 21, 2010.

When: August 28, 2010

Where: Strathallan Hotel at 550 East Avenue in Rochester, New York

For more information:

visit www.rochesterfurball.com

Win Swag from the MTV Movie Awards Gift Lounge!

Paris and John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:23:40 +0000

We’ve got an amazing four weeks of giveaways sure to make your dog feel like a star!

You’ll remember that last month we wrote about the special celebrity pet lounge at GBK Productions’s MTV Movie Awards Gift Lounge. At the star-studded event, celebrities like High School Musical’s KayCee Stroh, Debby Ryan of The Suite Life on Deck, Twilight’s of BooBoo Stewart, and other celebrity dog lovers were gifted with swag made specially with Spot in mind.

And now, thanks to GBK Productions, Bowser Beer, Castello di Fido, Rockstar Puppy and Rachael Rossman, we’ve got four weeks of that MTV Movie Awards gift lounge swag for you to win! Each week we’ll be featuring a prize from one special company; all you have to do to enter is to leave a comment below. (And if you enter now, your entry will be good for each week’s giveaway!)

Here’s a rundown of the fab prizes:

THIS WEEK! Week 1: Bowser Beer: Treat your dog with this non-alcoholic, non-carbonated brew (with glucosamine)! Along with the beer, there’s even a certificate to send in with your dog’s photo to have your dog put on the label of a special gift batch of Bowser Beer!
Week 2: Castello di Fido: These Napa Valley dog treats are “bottled” in champagne and wine bottles!
Week 3: Rockstar-Puppy.com: Protect your pooch’s head with a cool airbrushed dog helmet!
Week 4: Rachael Rossman Watercolor Portrait: Win a gift certificate for an 8×10 inch watercolor portrait of your pet by by Rachael Rossman! (Read more about Rachael’s work in her own Pet Pro Profile here on DogTipper!)

How to Enter

To enter, just leave a comment below about why your dog should be treated like a star!

For an extra chance to win, send out a tweet about this giveaway to your Twitter followers and leave a comment below with the URL of your tweet. (To find your tweet’s individual URL, click the “about x hours ago” line below your tweet.)

And for another chance to win, just subscribe to our newsletter (subscription form at the top of the right sidebar) and leave a comment that you’ve subscribed. If you’re already subscribing, just leave a comment that you’re subscribing…and many thanks!

The contest is open to readers everywhere. The first giveaway (Bowser Beer) closes at noon central time on Wednesday, August 4, 2010; the winner will be announced at 1pm central Wednesday, August 4, 2010. The winner will be selected at random using random.org. Each following Wednesday, a new winner will be selected; the final giveaway (Rachael Rossman portrait) ends Wednesday, August 25, 2010.

You may enter once per day; you do not have to enter during a specific week to be entered for that week’s giveaway. Good luck!

Congrats to the Winner of the Mark J. Asher Print!

Paris and John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:17:29 +0000

Congratulations to Jen S., the winner of her choice of a Mark J. Asher print in our Wednesday Wag Swag giveaway! For more on Mark’s great dog prints, be sure to check out his Etsy shop!

Wordless Wednesday: The Princess & The Pea

Paris and John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:29:06 +0000

I have to call this shot “The Princess and the Pea”…it reminds me of that fairy tale where the princess sleeps atop a pile of mattresses but can still detect a pea beneath the stack. In this case, the princess is our Coco, who loves to perch atop a stack of pillows every chance she gets. The pillows all seem to pile up in this chair; they start out on the couch but get relocated so the dogs will have more room on the couch! Sometimes Coco takes her turn on the couch with the dogs as well!