People Show Off Their Fake Therapy Dogs to the New York Post

"Fake service dogs are becoming pretty popular now," one numbskull proudly tells the newspaper.

Because the laws for therapy dogs are so easy to skirt, people do it, taking their dogs everywhere that dogs otherwise are not allowed. Sometimes these people have real problems and just don't want to go through the effort of getting an officially trained dog when they can simply buy a patch on eBay and get the same results. 

But this isn't about people with real problems and fake therapy dogs. This story is about a guy who doesn't want to leave his little dog outside when he goes shopping. This story is about Brett David, a 33-year-old restaurateur who seems to be just loving spilling all his secrets to the New York Post, even posing with his Maltese Yorkie, Napoleon, in a Whole Foods in New York, grinning through his ice cream.  

“I was sick of tying up my dog outside,” he told the Post. “Sometimes, they’ll give me a hassle and say bring the papers next time, but for five bucks, you order [a patch] off eBay, and it works 90 percent of the time."

Wonderful, David! We're so happy for you. What other dumb crap do you do with your dog? 

“He’s been to most movie theaters in the city, more nightclubs than most of my friends."

Super! I'm sure the people who work there are convinced Napoleon aids tremendously in your illness (you're without a brain, aren't you?), and will no way cast a suspicious light in the future on real service dogs who come in to their establishments. Certainly you're not carrying on and potentially ruining it for others out their who really need their service dogs, fake or not? 

“I don’t care who you are, a teacup Yorkie will trump a black [American Express] card when you’re trying to pick up a girl.”

Huh. Well, you have a point. Carry on, David.

Let's hear from Kate Vlasovskaya, a financier, who tells the Post she bought a a phony “service dog” ID card online from the United States Service Dog Registry for her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lila.

Why? Hell, I don't know how you get to the Hamptons with your dog, but Kate takes the Jitney. Her $50 laminated card clears the way no problem. It's real official looking -- it has a hologram and even an ID number for the dog. She is not worried about anyone finding out. 

“You’d have to go through all of these links or get someone on the line,” she said. “With all of that effort, they will probably just let you in.” 

Also, she said that fake service dogs are “becoming pretty popular now.” The subtext, of course, is that only losers tie up their dogs outside restaurants.

This is not looking good. 

Via the New York Post

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Embrace This: Most People Hug Their Dogs More Than They Hug Other People

Got dog fur across the fronts of your sweaters and shirts? Not surprising, according to a recent dog owner survey. Blame it on our dogs being just too embraceable to resist.

More than two-thirds (68 percent) of those surveyed say they hug their dogs more often than they hug "certain people" in their lives. Nearly one-third (30 percent) say they hug their dogs more than their relatives, and one-quarter (26 percent) say they hug their dogs more than they hug their best friends.

That's a lot of dog love, and could help explain what (at least to me) seems to be a rise in fur/lint rollers in stores.

But is one dog's affection gain someone else's loss? Does the good old physics law of the conservation of mass/energy apply here? Possibly. The survey of 482 U.S. adult dog owners in the Beneful Baked Delights survey found that 10 percent of women say they hug their dogs more than they hug their spouses or significant others. That probably translates to 10 percent of spouses who would like to be treated like a dog.

So what's so intoxicating about hugging a dog? The majority of owners surveyed say that hugging their dog makes them smile and feel happier. Nearly 40 percent say hugging their dog causes them to forget about the stress in their lives.

Hugging isn't just a one-way street, either. According to the survey, more than 60 percent of owners say that when they hug their dog, the dog returns their affection.

I think it's true. Dogs may not hug you back, but they embrace with their eyes and a certain way of leaning and being quiet and in the moment of the hug.

What's your hugging history? Do you hug your dog more than you do certain friends and loved ones? How does it make you feel to hug your pooch? Does it melt away stress, or just get you fretting about your black cashmere sweater suddenly turning the same color as your dog? And how does it make your dog feel? I realize certain dogs may not like being hugged. If you have a significant other, has s/he complained that your dog gets too much of your affection? Let us know!

For now, I sign off with big hugs. (For Jake, that is. Sorry, he's just looking too adorable curled up at my feet all loyal and cozy as write this.)

Photos via Shutterstock: Man hugging dog, woman hugging dog

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People Giving Up Pets Because They Can’t Afford Them

January 5, 2012 at 5:40 pm

I’ve read several articles in the news about people giving up their pets because of the tight economy. More than 80 dogs have been dropped off at a single shelter in West Virginia. Other shelters have seen a sharp increase in people dropping off pets because they can no longer afford them. And, because of the economic scares, fewer people are adopting pets.

It’s hard to understand giving up a family pet because money’s tight. I’d have to be missing some meals before I could give up my fur-kids.  I know there are situations in which the pet truly cannot remain with its owners, and for them I am deeply sorry. Knowing that adult pets are far more difficult to find homes for - and many of them are put down at shelters - I hope that if there’s no money for pet food, there’s also no money for cell phones, cable television, clothes, bottled water, movies and sweets. If there’s money for that stuff, there’s money for your dog.

The decisions we make in the emotional moments after losing a job or filing for bankruptcy are sometimes life-and-death decisions for our pets, who have no say in the decision making process.

Let’s not toss them aside too quickly.

Before you drop your dog off at a shelter, please think about what it really costs to keep your dog. If you already have a leash, collar and crate, what does it really cost? For a healthy dog, it only costs food and heartworm/flea medication. There may be areas in which you can save money that are often overlooked. Do you mow your own lawn? Do you have bottled water delivery? Can you reduce your cable/satellite or Internet service package? How often do you go to Starbucks?

In other words, are the discretionary things you spend your money on worth your dog’s life?

Our dogs give so much, and they don’t ask for much in return. Let’s at least provide a safe home for them with the people they love.

Entry filed under: In the News. Tags: afford, budget, can't, dogs, drop off, economy, expensive, give up, no longer, owners, pets, shelter, surrender, tight.

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People Giving Up Pets Because They Can’t Afford Them

January 5, 2012 at 5:40 pm

I’ve read several articles in the news about people giving up their pets because of the tight economy. More than 80 dogs have been dropped off at a single shelter in West Virginia. Other shelters have seen a sharp increase in people dropping off pets because they can no longer afford them. And, because of the economic scares, fewer people are adopting pets.

It’s hard to understand giving up a family pet because money’s tight. I’d have to be missing some meals before I could give up my fur-kids.  I know there are situations in which the pet truly cannot remain with its owners, and for them I am deeply sorry. Knowing that adult pets are far more difficult to find homes for - and many of them are put down at shelters - I hope that if there’s no money for pet food, there’s also no money for cell phones, cable television, clothes, bottled water, movies and sweets. If there’s money for that stuff, there’s money for your dog.

The decisions we make in the emotional moments after losing a job or filing for bankruptcy are sometimes life-and-death decisions for our pets, who have no say in the decision making process.

Let’s not toss them aside too quickly.

Before you drop your dog off at a shelter, please think about what it really costs to keep your dog. If you already have a leash, collar and crate, what does it really cost? For a healthy dog, it only costs food and heartworm/flea medication. There may be areas in which you can save money that are often overlooked. Do you mow your own lawn? Do you have bottled water delivery? Can you reduce your cable/satellite or Internet service package? How often do you go to Starbucks?

In other words, are the discretionary things you spend your money on worth your dog’s life?

Our dogs give so much, and they don’t ask for much in return. Let’s at least provide a safe home for them with the people they love.

Be the first to like this post.Entry filed under: In the News. Tags: afford, budget, can't, dogs, drop off, economy, expensive, give up, no longer, owners, pets, shelter, surrender, tight.

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Photos: Celebrity Pups and People Hit the Red Carpet for Last Night’s Golden Collar Awards

Last night, Dogster News Editor Maria Goodavage and photographer Nanette Gonzales attended the first ever Golden Collar Awards in Los Angeles. Maria’s already got a great post up with the highlights, but we thought Nanette’s fabulous event photos deserved a post of their own.

Uggie of The Artist fame and his brother, Dash, made their way down the not-quite-red carpet.

Uggie, Dash, and family.

Fans of Blackie the Doberman were out in full force.

Giggy and Lisa Vanderpump of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame were in attendance.

Fourteen-week-old Golden Retriever B. Dawg represented the Air Buddies movie alongside director Robert Vince.

Golden Collar trophy designer Simon Tavassoli with his creation.

Rowdy from Marley and Me, The Puppy Years won Best Dog in a Direct-to-DVD film.

Dobies waiting for some grub.

Elizabeth Snead, one of last night’s judges and a 15-year veteran of Hollywood awards shows, and Posy.

More Uggie!

Actress Laura Nativo and Preston Cassanova from CBS’ Greatest American Dog.

Uggie claiming his trophy for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film.

View the original article here

People Giving Up Pets Because They Can’t Afford Them

January 5, 2012 at 5:40 pm

I’ve read several articles in the news about people giving up their pets because of the tight economy. More than 80 dogs have been dropped off at a single shelter in West Virginia. Other shelters have seen a sharp increase in people dropping off pets because they can no longer afford them. And, because of the economic scares, fewer people are adopting pets.

It’s hard to understand giving up a family pet because money’s tight. I’d have to be missing some meals before I could give up my fur-kids.  I know there are situations in which the pet truly cannot remain with its owners, and for them I am deeply sorry. Knowing that adult pets are far more difficult to find homes for - and many of them are put down at shelters - I hope that if there’s no money for pet food, there’s also no money for cell phones, cable television, clothes, bottled water, movies and sweets. If there’s money for that stuff, there’s money for your dog.

The decisions we make in the emotional moments after losing a job or filing for bankruptcy are sometimes life-and-death decisions for our pets, who have no say in the decision making process.

Let’s not toss them aside too quickly.

Before you drop your dog off at a shelter, please think about what it really costs to keep your dog. If you already have a leash, collar and crate, what does it really cost? For a healthy dog, it only costs food and heartworm/flea medication. There may be areas in which you can save money that are often overlooked. Do you mow your own lawn? Do you have bottled water delivery? Can you reduce your cable/satellite or Internet service package? How often do you go to Starbucks?

In other words, are the discretionary things you spend your money on worth your dog’s life?

Our dogs give so much, and they don’t ask for much in return. Let’s at least provide a safe home for them with the people they love.

Be the first to like this post.Entry filed under: In the News. Tags: afford, budget, can't, dogs, drop off, economy, expensive, give up, no longer, owners, pets, shelter, surrender, tight.

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People Killing, Maiming Their Pets to Collect on Insurance

Pet insurance fraud has become Britain’s fastest-growing insurance crime, and has even turned deadly for some dogs and cats.  In their owners’ quest for insurance payouts, some pets are paying with their lives. In one brutal scam, people kill pets and then file for early death benefits, according to reports.

Some owners stage fake accidents and injure their pets in order to “fix” pre-existing conditions or to bilk the companies out of more money, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Fraudulent pet claims quadrupled to $3 million during the last year, but many suspect the figure is significantly higher. The number of claims where fraud was suspected or proven increased by 440 percent for one insurer between 2008 and now.

Less harmful fraudulent activity includes making claims on animals who don’t exist, and filing for amounts that double or more what was paid to vets. Experts say some unscrupulous vets may even be helping with some scams.

“These are particularly worrying types of fraud because it often requires the help of a vet,” says fraud investigator ?Carys Clarke.

All this makes those who ding their cars in order to get insurance money (known as a “crash for cash” scheme) look pretty harmless.

Pet insurance is much easier to dupe than human insurance because there are no easy ways to track pets. I’m sure insurers are working on trying to remedy this. And I’m willing to bet that this isn’t solely happening in Britain.

Can you believe some people will go to these extremes to make money? Perhaps if the punishment fit the crime, some perpetrators would be deterred.

I hope the pet insurance industry can come up with better ways to track claims so pets won’t have to continue to pay the price. And speaking of price, I wonder how this sort of thing affects insurance premiums. Have you noticed your bills increasing of late, Dogsters?

Sources: The Telegraph, Time, the Daily Mail

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Are people who bring their cats to shelters ‘abandoning’ them?

Ok now my previous post isnt showing up…I think there are little gremlins in my computer trying to drive me nuts. Little do they know…I’m already there…….one more time:

“Is someone who takes a cat to a no-kill shelter because they have lost their job and their home “abandoning” their cat?”

Yes.

Granted, a no kill shelter is a much better option than a death camp (kill “shelter”) or leaving a pet who hasnt learned how to survive outside like ferals, where they are without someone to care for them.

But this B.S. about “Oh, I lost my job, or home, blah blah yadda yadda, so I cant keep my cat or dog” is just a cowardly, irresponsible, excuse.

You’ll notice that these frauds arent abandoning their human kids, dropping them off somewhere, forever leaving them heartbroken and missing their family, yet they do it to their four legged babies because alot of society has a severe case of ignorance (technical term: Headupthebuttitis), in which the four legged souls of this world are considered “disposable”, whether they are murdered and thrown away in death camps, or dumped off somewhere, it is simply WRONG to violate the promise that one essentially makes when adopting a pet:

To always love them, care for them, protect them, be there for them, and to NEVER abandon them.

If you have money to afford food for your chubby kids, you have money for your cat(s), period.

I once emailed a woman who wanted to give away her cat because “she didnt have money” and reminded her that she was online, paying a monthly fee for having an online service,and that she would save enough money to take care of her cat, if she sold the computer, and thus saving on the monthly fees, and kept her cat.

She had nothing to say.
Because she knew I was right.

If you arent leaving your kids behind, dont leave your cats behind. Period.

If a hotel doesnt accept cats, dont accept the hotel, and find one that DOES accept cats. Many many do.

Adopting a cat is like giving birth: You are FOREVER responsible for your new baby.

There is a double standard that deadbeat pet parents cling to, and it is rooted in the same prejudice that shelter killing is rooted in: Speciesism.

When searching for the right answer to any question, we must put OURSELVES in the position of OTHERS (Treat others the way YOU want to be treated), and in this case, we must ask ourselves this question: “If I was in Morris’s or Fluffy’s situation, would I want my family to abandon ME?”

If the answer is “No” (if you’re honest, it IS “No”), then dont abandon your cat, because they are equally as important and precious as You, I and the rest of us.

Now, if an old 89 year old woman who is confined to a wheelchair and has degenerative
arthritis, is unable to care for and feed her cat properly, then that is a different situation, and a NO kill shelter might actually be better for the cat’s well being, even though He or She would badly miss their loved one.

But using money as an excuse for abandoning your cat or dog, while you still spend money on your human kids, is cowardly and wrong.

Bottom line: If you can take care of, and have room for 190-225 pound human family members, you can take care of, and you have room for a 10-15 pound cat.

To say otherwise is to condone abandonment.
Abandonment is wrong.

Just put YOURSELF in the pawprints of the abandoned, and tell me, how would you feel if YOUR family abandoned you?

Your cat would feel the same way.

Treat others like you would want to be treated.

Society must stop finding excuses to kill and start finding ways to save lives, and society must stop finding excuses to abandon pets, and instead find a way to keep them.

They love you, and need you.

Ask not what our pets can do for us, ask what we can do for our pets.

P.S. If I were the head of a No Kill Shelter, I would tell anyone who wanted to dump their pets off at my shelter, what I just told everyone else, but I would MAKE CLEAR that if they STILL wanted to abandon their cat, I’d glady take Him or Her and show them what having a TRUE loving family feels like….a family who will love them, like cats love us….unconditionally, forever.

“We humans could learn alot from the higher animals”

Comment by Matt — June 24, 2011 @ 8:28 pm

Matt, your arguments are simplistic and unrealistic.

First of all, it would be ILLEGAL for a parent to just “drop their kid off somewhere” and leave them behind. You CAN legally do that with an animal. You CANNOT legally do that with a child. You may believe that is wrong, but that’s YOUR value system speaking out. Whether or not YOU agree with it, the LAW grants a higher standard of protection to children than to animals, and legally, leaving a child behind is just not something a parent can generally do.

Second, a good share of the programs put in place to help those in need (homeless shelters, food kitchens, etc.) prohibit animals. If you feel THAT is wrong, you’d be in good company with many others here. But presently, that’s the way it is. And if a family in dire financial need wants to get the available help, their pets become a hindrance in this situation, so many make the decision to leave their pets at a shelter in order to obtain shelter for their children.

(And no - someone without a steady source of income cannot simply go blithely “hotel-shopping” to find one that accepts pets the same way a person with a dependable income can. The unemployed person is looking for whatever they can afford, and that’s not likely to include allowing animals. Again, if you think this policy is wrong, you’d be in good company, but so far, that’s the way it is.)

You say “Society must stop finding excuses to kill and start finding ways to save lives, and society must stop finding excuses to abandon pets, and instead find a way to keep them.” and I certainly agree with you there. Take the example of FEMA and Hurricane Katrina.

We all remember the tragic images of pet owners having their beloved animals pulled from their arms before being pushed onto the evacuation buses, and other images of owners sitting on their rooftops with the animals they refused to leave behind - hoping either for rescue or the receding of the flood before they ran out of their food and water.

Congress took note of the human cost resulting from FEMA’s inflexible “no pets” policy and passed the “Pets Evacuation and Transportation
Standards Act of 2006” and so now the FEMA policy says “The Post-Katrina Act amends the IHP provisions of the Stafford Act by authorizing search, rescue, care, and shelter of pets and service animals as a type of essential assistance to be provided after a major disaster declaration.”

In other words, in a disaster, pet owner may no longer be forced by FEMA to leave their pets behind.

It’s a start, and we need to keep up the pressure to get homeless shelters, hotels, motels and landlords to end their “no pets” policies and find ways for food providers (so-called “soup kitchens”) to accomodate pet owners without running afoul of Health regulations.

But we’re not there yet, and so in today’s world with today’s realities of life after catastrophic financial loss, families with pets are put at a MAJOR disadvantage (in addition to those they already face). Rather than having THE ENTIRE FAMILY continue to starve and be homeless, the RESPONSIBLE thing to do is to provide shelter for the pets by leaving them somewhere safe which permits the rest of the family to seek the available help and resources that are out there. That way ALL of you can survive.

And if THAT isn’t an example of “FOREVER responsibility”, then I don’t know what is.

Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 25, 2011 @ 6:07 am

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Rescue efforts in Joplin reunite pets and people

While displaced families from the Joplin, Mo., tornado were receiving support this week at the American Red Cross’ makeshift shelter in the student center on Missouri Southern State University’s campus, their four-legged family members were just several feet away downstairs — safe in the arms of rescue workers from the Humane Society of Missouri.

“It’s a great way for the families and the pets to brighten each other’s day while they are here. Family members come down and walk their dogs or hug their cats anytime they want and it just gives both of them a sense of familiarity and calmness in the chaos,” says HSM’s Corrie Kahl, shelter manager for the emergency shelter in Joplin and for the HSM shelter in St. Louis.

Racquetball courts and offices in the basement of the student center have become the temporary housing units for the animals. Kennels and blankets and play toys fill the rooms. But most of the pets don’t have much time to use them since staff and volunteers from the HSM spend most of their time holding and babying about 14 animals belonging to the families in the shelter.
The safe-keeping of victimized families’ pets is only one part of the HSM’s activities in Joplin. The HSM Disaster Response Team goes where it is needed throughout the state and neighboring states to execute animal search and rescue efforts. As though to drive that point home, Corrie’s walk talkie crackles with a DRT member from the devastated Joplin suburb, saying, “We do have evidence that the cats are still alive; they are using the litter box. We’ll continue our search.”

Meanwhile, not far from campus, the Joplin Humane Society Animal Adoption and Resource Center’s facility is fulfilling another service: keeping the pets that have been found safe and providing flexible hours for people to come, look and, hopefully, identify their pets. While the facility is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., they are also using social media tools, posting pets’ pictures and date they were found on its Web site.

The Joplin Humane Society (JHS) also has an active Facebook site, too. On that site, there is an Amazon link that lists the product and supplies needed for the shelter that can be shipped. Pet owner Randy Resler is just one person depending on the services of the Society’s AARC. His home was one of the lucky ones; it was not totally destroyed. In fact, he and his wife stayed in it after the storm. His two cats and Pomeranian named Lilly were in crates in the garage out of harm’s way from the debris. While he and his wife were in their house sorting through things, someone apparently found the animals in the garage at the back of the house and did not realize anyone was home and took them. Randy hopes it was a rescue team that found the animals and he is confident that once the JHS has time to process more found animals, he will find his. He was heading that day to the shelter to take another look. As of Saturday, he was still looking.

The JHS’s Facebook postings say more volunteers are not needed at this time at the JHS, but to check back in several weeks. However, there are always unforeseen expenses creating a need for monetary donations now more than ever. Donations can be made through the JHS’s Website.

While some animals are just waiting to get back home, there are some canines with jobs to do. News reports Saturday stated there were 600 volunteers and 50 dog teams out again across the city in search and recovery mode. One organization is Gateway Search Dogs, Inc. of St. Louis.  Kathy Roeder, president of Gateway, was there Thursday with her Australian Shepherd, Cooper. The nonprofit organization provides trained canines and personnel to locate lost, missing and deceased persons. It serves all cities, county, state or national search-and-rescue agencies at no charge.

Updates about Joplin are provided on Web sites like the City of Joplin’s Facebook site where information is immediately posted. Go here for more information. The Web site for the city of Joplin is here and includes links to donations sites and important phone numbers. A volunteer coordination center is manned on the campus of Missouri Southern State University at 3950 Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801. During the week, the number to call is 417-625-3543 for individuals and groups.

Please do not come from out of town unless you call first to find out if there is anything you can do. Police and fire officials are strongly encouraging anyone who does not have a home in the affected area to please stay clear of the damage site. There will be plenty of time for many months to come to help locally.

Image credit: All photos courtesy of Kathie Kerr.

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Food isn’t love for cats or their people

April 12, 2011

No, your cat doesn’t just love you because you feed her. From Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker in this week’s Pet Connection newspaper feature:

Cats attach to their people out of a social bond, not solely because owners provide food. A study accepted for publication in the journal Behavioural Processes found cat-human relationships closely resemble human relationships. Food is a token of affection, and for humans and their cats, the relationship is similar to a human caretaker and the pre-verbal infant. The study also looked at the difference between bonds of male and female owners and their cats. Cats approached female owners and jumped on their laps more readily than cats with male owners, suggesting that female owners have closer relationships with their cats than do male owners.

And from Gina Spadafori, words of wisdom about pet bunnies:

Want a happy house rabbit? Make sure your bunny’s digs are suitable.

The best indoor spaces for rabbits are both safe and stimulating. They keep your bunny out of trouble when you are away from home, but give him the space to dig, chew, play, stretch, snooze or just sit and think.

The right housing has room for a large litter box, a generous stack of hay, a water crock, toys to chew and toss, and a towel to arrange and rearrange. A surprising must-have: a cardboard digging box, double or triple the size of your bunny.

The right spot will give your rabbit an entertaining view of family members as they cook, clean, talk on the phone, watch TV, use the computer and get ready for — or come home from — work. (Read more here…)

You can read all this and more in this week’s Pet Connection!

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