Haven’t you wanted to suggest to some people that maybe they want to have something other than a live dog or cat? I have. Well here’s something we can suggest — dog topiaries!

Thanks to the Bumblebee Blog for this amusing post.

Green Dogs

I don’t think I’m particularly obsessed with things being perfectly trimmed and even in my garden…
I always tell people that a little bit of wildness breathes life into a greenspace. This philosophy also happens to make it easier to justify the times when I don’t exactly get everything done to perfection in the garden. There isn’t time to do everything and to do it well, so a laissez-faire policy seems to work as well as any to justify what I do (or don’t do).

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Once again, if you’re thinking about offering your canine furbaby some fruit, check to make sure it hasn’t been recalled.

Thanks to the FDA for this announcement.

Simply Fresh Fruit Announces Nationwide Recall of Some Fresh Cut Fruit Products Containing Cantaloupe Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Los Angeles, California — March 27, 2008 — Simply Fresh Fruit, of Los Angeles, California is recalling selected fresh cut fruit products which may contain cantaloupe which has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. On March 26, 2008, Simply Fresh was requested by its supplier, Tropifresh, Inc to recall products produced with cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano. Simply Fresh had begun to recover this product earlier, on March 24, based on a notice published By the U.S. FDA.

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If you’re in Dallas and looking for a ready-made family you might want to consider these furbabies.

Thanks to DallasNews.com for this article.

Stray dogs’ caretakers hope to find them a permanent home
Thursday, March 27, 2008
By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News

Passersby thought they were a couple of strays that didn’t.

Instead, even as the bulldozers pushed away the last of the apartment complex where they lived, Tasha and Luci refused to leave the only home they’d ever known.

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ACTION ALERT: Calling all animal welfare advocates for Monday, March 31st!

March 21, 2008 : 11:38 PM
Peaceful presence needed for Victor Rodriguez sentencing-supporters of Edna and Bill Whiting are requested!

On March 10th Victor Rodriguez was found guilty of numerous charges but the question still remains - WHERE IS EDNA?

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This is an excellent post from Salon.com on the very real differences between China and the majority of the world’s countries where dogs and cats are part of our families.

Please be aware that this article has some very upsetting points and information.

Thanks to Salon.com for this article.

An Olympic disgrace
The current spotlight on China’s human rights record fails to illuminate its cruel and inhumane treatment of dogs and cats.

By Ted Kerasote
March 24, 2008

On my first trip to China I met a dog who was a dead ringer for Lassie. He lived with a dozen other dogs at a remote training camp for Olympic skiers in Manchuria, where a friend and I were spending a few days as we explored the area’s backcountry skiing. In return for food and lodging we gave the Chinese athletes some clinics in American ski techniques.

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I’m sorry to report that the cantaloupe recall has now extended to all of North America.

Thanks to the FDA for this report.

Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Honduran Cantaloupes grown by Agropecuaria Montelibano, San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –Pompano Beach, FL — March 24, 2008 — Central American Produce, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL announces a voluntary recall of cantaloupes grown, packed and shipped by an independent third-party grower, Agropecuaria Montelibano of San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras. The product was distributed nationwide and Canada. Based on current information, the cantaloupe grown, packed and shipped from Agropecuaria Montelibano appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada.

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What a marvelous program! I’d love to see this in other cities across the world!

Thanks to the Chicago Tribune for this article.

Program turns notorious dogs into good citizens
Pit bull owners steered away from dogfighting
By Gerry Smith | Tribune reporter
10:22 PM CDT, March 22, 2008

On the streets of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, Sean Moore and his 8-month-old pit bull, Jigga, are setting an example.

“The pit bulls you normally see, they’re pulling, they’re not listening, they’re wild, they’re barking at people,” said Moore, 38. “When [other owners] see us with the same dogs, they ask, ‘How do y’all do that? And how much does it cost?’”

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Thanks to Quad-Cities Online for this fun news.

Easter has gone to the dogs
Print publication date: 03/24/2008
By Brian Krans

ROCK ISLAND — Even a working dog needs a day off.

Polar — an adopted dog believed to be a goldendoodle — stood with rabbit ears perched near her while her owner, Pam Davis of Davenport, held her leash tight. Both had white puffy coats. Ms. Davis bought hers to match Polar’s.

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Thanks to the Sunbear Squad for keeping us all watching out for dogs and cats in need.

Listen for pets that whine and cry for more than one day — they are distressed. Call the authorities.

That’s right, false teeth for cats!!! Check out this post from Lady Bee over at the InventorSpot blog.

False Teeth For Cats! What Next?
by Lady Bee, March 24, 2008

In an age when the humanization of pets seems to have few boundaries and little purpose but self-amusement, false teeth for cats might be grouped with cat clothing and wigs in the ‘eccentric cat lady’ category. But is false teeth for cats or any animal so crazy?

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