Reading those words is hard. Writing them is even harder. But witnessing it is perhaps one of the most brutal visual nightmares one can experience. Thankfully, I did not witness the  act, but I was privy to part of it, and so were millions of other unsuspecting television viewers of Teen Mom 2 on MTV.

The backstory

Having grown up in the days of hair bands and glam rockers showcasing their latest videos on this channel, it has been quite a culture shock for me to see “reality” shows such as Teen Mom 2 being broadcast on a music channel.

Though I do not watch a lot of television, I have select shows I cannot miss. One of my guilty pleasures has become Teen Mom 2. The series focuses on four young girls who became pregnant during their teen years and the struggles that ensue during pregnancy and while raising a baby. I find the show to be very realistic, raw, and ripe with emotional turmoil that (I hope) affects the psyche of young girls tuning in. Use birth control or this will happen to you, seems to be the undercurrents of the show.

The incident

One of the four featured cast members is a South Dakota native, Chelsea Houska. Since giving birth to adorable daughter Aubree, Houska’s life has been fraught with emotional challenges. She quit high school when she was pregnant, her on again/off again relationship with the baby’s father has been played out, and she struggles with what is best for her daughter (and herself) as the cameras roll.

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Chelsea Houska seen her with her daughter, Aubree

On the day Houska is scheduled to take her final GED practice test, she is running late. Her small dogs, Frankie and Pixie, need to pee, so she lets the dogs outside, both off leash, to do their business. As she does, Houska walks around chatting on her cell phone, baby Aubree on her hip. Her frustration level climbs, as she is in a hurry, trying to gather her dogs back into the house, but they refuse to come back. She manages to get Pixie into her truck and shuts the door behind him.

Frankie is not so lucky. The little French Bulldog is seen traipsing around different yards, Houska following, chatting on the phone, and upset that she cannot get Frankie back into the house. She’s in a hurry, after all!

The dog disappears and within a matter of seconds, the worst happens. Houska gasps and the camera cuts away. After the commercial break, we learn the dog was being attacked by a neighbor’s larger dog. Houska is visibly upset and calls police, who tell her there is not much they can do. A distraught Houska breaks down and calls her supportive father.

“Every time I go to my test, something happens,” Chelsea weeps to her father.” Her dad, in turn, agrees with the bigger dog’s owner that if his daughter had Frankie on a leash, none of this would have happened. He also points out that Aubree could have been the one who was murdered.

My Reaction

I am livid.

Beyond the anger I feel for this girl’s lack of thought at not leashing her dogs to take them outside as she rushed to take her GED, I am livid for other reasons.

Why did the camera people not intervene? I always wonder these things when cameras roll and totally disturbing things happen. Who was filming it? And was it set up? I wonder to myself. This was no setup: A dog was mauled.

I wanted reality, and I got it, and now I have no idea what to do with it. We all make mistakes, right? We all do something we wished we did not do, right? This is so disturbing.

Why is a girl who is struggling to make ends meet while attempting to get her GED (she later passed) and raise an infant daughter even wanting to have dogs in the first place?

In December, Houska tweeted, “I'm gonna be single for life. That moment when you listen to 'love songs' and nobody pops into your mind."

Tweet what you want, ramble about the misgivings and unfortunate life of emptiness you feel, but watch your dog, for crying out loud. I want to curse, I want to scream, I want to be the person behind the camera who stops rolling and picks up the helpless dog.

I am livid, and a little dog is dead because of a hurried teen mom. She made one mistake, and I give her credit for owning it and attempting to better her life.

I am chided now and again to stop referring to my dog as my kid. Maybe if more folks viewed their dogs as they do their kids, horrific incidents like this would not happen. And camera crews would drop the equipment and help a frantic young girl find her lost dog. If that were Aubree running loose toward the big dog, would they have stopped rolling then? I shake my head and wonder.

What do you think? At this point, I am livid and at a loss for further words. Lights, camera, ... now someone take action. Please.

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Gaiman found Cabal by the side of the road. What started out as a human rescuing a dog quickly became reversed when Gaiman ended up adopting the white German Shepherd.

As the author recounts on his blog, Cabal, a white German Shepherd, was running around, scared and likely to run into traffic. That's when Gaiman came to the dog's rescue, and after getting the dog into his car, he brought him to a local shelter to be reunited with his owner. That person, a nearby farmer, collected the dog but also mentioned that he thought the dog was a "nuisance," and that if anyone wanted him, he was more than willing to part with the wolfish canine. Gaiman seized the opportunity.

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The author helped nurse the dog back to health and the two quickly became best friends.

The dog's white fur had been stained by the chain he wore while tethered in the farmer's yard. Also, he was underweight, and he suffered the effects of negligence. Gaiman nursed the dog to health, and he changed his name from Buck to Cabal -- after a canine character from the King Arthur legends. The mythical name suited Cabal, who offered Gaiman companionship during some difficult times in the writer's life.

You know what they say: Sometimes we don't rescue dogs, they rescue us. Gaiman eventually adopted a second dog, Lola, to keep Cabal company, and he posted so many photos of his little pack that fans created a Tumblr of pictures of the dogs. There is even a Cabal shirt available for purchase here.

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Super Cabal! Photo via Neil Gaiman's Never Wear

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Cabal and Gaiman became fast friends.

At age 9, Cabal died recently and suddenly of a blood clot in his lungs. Gaimain wrote a moving tribute to the big white dog that you can read here (tissue warning). Closing with a poem from Rudyard Kipling called "The Power of Dog," Gaiman wrote that Cabal was the "best dog in the universe" who will be painfully missed.

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Rest in peace, Cabal.

Via Neil Gaiman's blog, photos by Neil Gaiman via Tumblr 

But what if a public agency has it out for dogs and their owners? What if its actions look like it's aiming to make dogs less equal than other park users?

That sure seems to be the case with the U.S. Park Service in the Bay Area in recent years.

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Charlie the American Staffordshire Terrier

The service has, for years, attempted to restrict access for dogs on the region's parklands, and since the 1970s tensions between dog owners and park officials have been characterized by raucous public hearings, court cases, and, most recently, harsh treatment of dogs and their owners. 

In the past year, a U.S. park ranger Tasered a 51-year-old man for walking his Rat Terrier off leash in San Mateo County, and since August, U.S. park officials in San Francisco have aggressively sought the euthanasia of the young dog Charlie, an American Staffordshire Terrier who bit a mounted police horse despite the fact Charlie has no previous record of aggressive behavior. His owner is now appealing Charlie's death sentence.

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Charlie on the beach

In the late 1970s, after years of public wrangling, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area established a pet policy that allows dogs on approximately one percent of Bay Area parklands. The 1979 Pet Policy also established off-leash rules and designated off-leash areas, one of which is a portion of Crissy Field in the San Francisco Presidio. 

But the GGNRA was never happy with the policy, and in the 1990s, illegally closed some dog walking areas designated in the 1979 Pet Policy, most notably at Fort Funston, Ocean Beach, and West Beach at Crissy Field. However, the closures did not withstand citizen-based legal challenges, and most of those areas have been reopened. 

Currently the GGNRA is attempting to roll back the 1979 Pet Policy through a new dog-management plan that would completely prohibit dogs from areas they are allowed in and require dogs be on-leash at Crissy Field. The public outcry to the draft plan was so great -- 4,713 people commented on the plan and 80 percent of the comments favored current dog policies -– that the GGNRA is revising the draft plan, which will be released again for public comment in February, 2013. 

But the public’s wishes have not stopped the GGNRA from aggressively intimidating dog owners for minor infractions and taking harsh actions against dogs who act aggressively.

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Charlie as a younger dog

In the past year, there have been at least two controversial incidents involving dogs that have caught the public’s attention. In January, Park Ranger Sarah Cavallaro stopped 51-year-old Gary Hesterberg for walking his Rat Terrier off-leash at the Rancho Corral de Tierra property, which was recently acquired by the GGNRA. In fact, the property was so newly acquired there were no “dogs on leash” signs posted in the area, according to Hesterberg’s attorney. Hesterberg, a local who had been walking his dogs in the area for years, complied with Cavallaro’s demand to leash the small dog. But Cavallaro would not allow Hesterberg to leave the scene and she would not explain why she was detaining him. 

Hesterberg tried to walk away twice, according to witnesses, and on his second attempt, Cavallaro unholstered her Taser and shot him in the back. The high-voltage charge knocked Hesterberg to the ground, and he was arrested after being examined by paramedics. In the days following the violent attack, there was a rising chorus of complaints about Cavallaro’s actions. The U.S. Park Service defended her actions and after a disciplinary investigation, which found that Cavallaro actions were within park policy. 

However, the 200-page investigation report was not released to the public, which brought the ire of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, who demanded an independent investigation and publicly criticized the park service’s actions, findings, and refusal to release the report. 

Given the circumstances, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office refused to prosecute Hesterberg for the misdemeanors of walking his dog off-leash, failing to follow an officer’s orders, and giving false information about his identity. “In light of all the circumstances, we decided that a criminal case was not the appropriate path to take,” District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said. “We’re confident that a jury wouldn’t convict him and this case would be better by not entering the criminal justice system.”

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Charlie and his owner, David Gizzarelli

In July, Hesterberg filed a claim with the U.S. Park Service seeking $500,000. The park service has until January to respond to the claim. 

Hesterberg’s attorney, Michael Haddad, said the park service should release the report on Cavallaro, who had previous complaints about her interactions with dog owners, to the public. “This is the only way to shed some real light on what happened,” Haddad said. “If the park service contends the ranger honestly thought it was within their policies to Tase this guy in the back, then clearly their policies need to be clarified or strengthened.” 

The most recent incident involves Charlie a Staffordshire Terrier who attacked a U.S. Park Service mounted police horse at Crissy Field on Aug. 6. Charlie, who was 18 months at the time, had never seen a horse before and he became excited. He charged the horse, Stoney, who was being ridden by Officer Eric Evans, from approximately 200 yards away. According to Evans, he put Stoney into evasive action by pivoting the horse, which further excited Charlie and he bit Stoney, causing the horse to fall and Evans to be thrown. Charlie chased Stoney for a little more than half a mile and bit the horse several more times. 

Charlie’s owner, David Gizzarelli, was arrested and Charlie was taken to San Francisco Animal Care and Control, and released to Gizzarelli the next day. But after a vicious dog hearing on Aug. 23, hearing officer John Denny ordered that Charlie could be euthanized in the new year, despite the fact that Officer Evans misrepresented and exaggerated the facts of the case and provided next to no hard evidence of his claims. 

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Officer Eric Evans and Stoney the horse

GGNRA spokesman Howard Levitt has said on more than one occasion that the park service has nothing to do with the legal proceedings against Charlie, and that Charlie’s punishment is entirely up to the city and county of San Francisco. But according to court records, the GGNRA not only requested the vicious dog hearing, but also requested Charlie be euthanized. We've found that the official case against Charlie is weak.

Gizzarelli has been fighting to save Charlie, but reportedly Denny will only agree to lift the death sentence if Gizzarelli relinquishes ownership of the dog. The requirement is odd because Denny refuses to say exactly why Gizzarelli is an unfit owner. Neither the U.S. Park Service nor Denny have responded to requests for comment on the case. 

In the meantime, Charlie has been kept in a small cell surrounded by truly vicious dogs, and he is not allowed human contact. “Charlie continues to be in an 8x4 cell with no walks and no visits,” Gizzarelli posted his Help Save Charlie Facebook page. “And who knows what else because NO ONE is allowed to visit him. We are filing a new stay and continuing to fight, sue, and protect Charlie and dogs like him.” 

This year, Natural Balance's entry in the world-famous parade is a replica of the U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument, the first such monument dedicated to military dogs scheduled to be dedicated next fall. Before now there has been no national monument honoring the dogs who have served in the U.S. armed forces. While smaller memorials exist in cemeteries and on military bases, the U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument will be the first canine commemoration on par with monuments like the Statue of Liberty.

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Concept art of the monument. Via JBMF, Inc.

The monument, which will feature a human handler and four dog breeds famous for their service work, is yet to be unveiled. We'll get a look at the real statue at the Rose Parade.

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The float in progress, as overseen by Sgt. First Class Chuck Shuck and Gabe. Photo via Fleishman Hillard

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Photo via Fleishman Hillard

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Concept art of the completed float. Image courtesy of Natural Balance

During the parade, the float -- dubbed "Canines with Courage" -- will be flanked by Lucca, a recently retired military hero dog who lost one of her legs to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan while saving a platoon of U.S. Marines. You can learn more about her story in the video below.

Will you be watching the Rose Parade on New Year's Day? If so, watch for this remarkable float.

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Donna Santucci loves serving her canine customers.

You know the food trucks that park outside businesses and offices so the lunch crowd has easy access to cuisine? This concept has expanded to dogs; perhaps you and your pooch have dined on the delicacies offered by local eateries, bakers on wheels, or even the bigger brand names serving doggie style treats and meals throughout the nation.

Meals on wheels has taken on a whole new meaning.

Fido to Go is Donna Santucci’s mobile food truck for pets featuring Fi-Yo doggie frozen yogurts and Midwest-sourced natural treats and chews for both cats and dogs.

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Dogs and their paw-rents line up for a tasty treat from Fido to Go.

Fido to Go made its debut at the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago's "Bark In the Park" in 2011, and has been rolling along strong ever since. Santucci makes cookies, frozen yogurts, dog candy, and donuts. The ingredients are organic, natural, gluten- and sugar-free, and don't have preservatives and additives. They're made right in Chicago.

“Our focus is on healthy, allergen-free treats and creating the truck experience fun for the pet and their parents,” Santucci says. “Our dried products are all from Midwest farm and locally dried in Illinois.” She boasts Fido to Go as the first original treat truck in the nation; they are looking forward to having many of their Fido to Go trucks in many cities.

Angela Meyers established Frosty Pooch Ice Cream truck for dogs in May of 2011. The idea came to Meyers when she and her husband stopped for ice cream while at the beach. As their German Shepherds, Nikita and Cabo, started longingly for some of their ice cream, a lightbulb moment occurred; why not an ice cream truck for dogs? In addition to ice cream, the Frosty Pooch truck serves bones, cookies, Frisbees, balls, along with free water and waste bags.

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Frosty Pooch keeps dogs cool in the summer.

“We go to all kinds of events," Meyers shares. "But when we are not at an event, we drive around Hoboken, New Jersey, to all the different dog parks.” Meyers is also thinking about franchising her business across the country, beginning in New York. Fans can follow the truck and their pooch pit stops via the website.

Bigger brands have hopped aboard the food trucks as well. Over the summer of 2012, the Pet Cafe, a food truck sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, toured the country to help promote a new brand offered by the company.

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Chef Michael’s, a brand of Nestle’ Purina PetCare, launched a national sweepstakes in 2012 to support building a dog-friendly food-truck community. In a survey conducted by the company, 48 percent of respondents revealed they would likely take their dog to lunch or dinner at a food truck that provided food for their dogs if they had access to one in their neighborhood. 

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My dog Dexter digs a delectable cool treat.

Would you visit a food or treat truck if you had access to one? Bark at me below! 

With more than 1 billion people on Facebook and nearly 78 million dogs calling the United States home, there are indeed masses of mutts and parades of pedigrees gracing social media pages. If you have a dog and a social media account, why not create a social media following to rival the likes of, well, Boo? Here are some tips to make it happen. 

1. Time to walk the dog blog

People start dog blogs for a variety of reasons, including giving their pooch a voice, showcasing her latest travel adventures, or even to share pet-friendly restaurants. With pet bloggers representing a big part of cyberspace, you’ll hardly be alone if you start a blog.

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"Okay yeah sit stay, blah blah. Can we have a treat now?"

First consider why you want to blog, whether it will be written in canine or human voice, and how much time you want to commit. Disney even has a show devoted to the concept, Dog With a Blog -- pet blogging has indeed become a force to be reckoned with. BlogPaws, a social media company founded in 2009, brings the online pet community together with yearly conferences that are pet friendly -- dogs are even welcome in the classrooms.

2. Take an interest in Pinterest

We're a visual and socially connected society, and dogs are very social beings. Dog moms and dads fill their smartphones with photos of their canine family members. Pinterest encourages, fosters, and helps grow your furry obsession into something connected to other dog lovers.

Pinning is a form of micro-blogging, very much like Twitter and Facebook, but without the heavy verbal commitment. If getting your dog recognized is your goal, give Pinterest a try. And check out Instagram for more photo-capture fabulousness.

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Some photos are destined for Pinterest fun.

3. Facebook -- with a catch

Yes, your dog can have a Facebook page, but there is a catch. Thanks to more than 83 million fake Facebook accounts, Mark Zuckerberg & Co. are cleaning house, including pages occupied by dogs. Accounts that will be removed include personal pages set up improperly. Be sure to use the Facebook “Pages” option to set up a canine account.

Facebook, like much of the social media landscape, is very image based. If you like taking pictures and want to give your dog a voice, Facebook has a place for your pooch. Friend fellow tail-waggers, and remember that Facebook is very much like the dog park: Follow the rules, have fun, respect others, and be social yet not intrusive.

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"Hey, can I friend you on Facebook?"

4. Twitter jitters

Twitter is more lax when it comes to animals having their own accounts. Have you been to a “pawty” or participated in an online animal chat? Businesses and brands host Twitter parties where the atmosphere is pet friendly -- because oftentimes the pets do the talking. Millions of dollars are being made in the name of dog. Brands have become savvy to what dog parents want, and as a PR and social media guru in the pet industry, I can attest firsthand (and paw) that tweets by pets are being watched.

How can you get your dog noticed? Above all, follow other pet people. It might seem time consuming and daunting, but if your plan is to create a doggie diva, Twitter needs to be a part of it.

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Too cute not to tweet about.

5. I sniff you, you sniff me

Growing an online presence takes time. Think like your dog: He meets a new dog, and in most cases, an exchange of sniffs occurs. The same philosophy should be applied online. You know that person who talks nonstop at a party, rambling about me-me-me? It works the same way. If you want a following, be a good follower. Reciprocity rules; I sniff you, you sniff me.

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"Come here often?"

6. Walk away from the blinky box

Experience life. Go for walks, engage in face-to-face banter, and then infuse those experiences into your dog’s social media presence. I have a “rules of writing” poster here in my office, and one of the basic principles is to stop writing and go do something. I find humor in things my dog does when on play dates, traveling, going for walks, and meeting new people. I am able to write about those experiences. Probably 80 percent of my inspiration happens within a 10-mile radius of my home, but thousands of followers know about it. It's amazing how dogs can bring us together, isn’t it? We're one big happy dog park, in a sense.

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Get together IRL (in real life) to make online magic happen.

7. Say cheese

Finally, take your camera wherever you go. If you have a smartphone with a camera, use it. Snap pictures at the pet supply store, the dog park, the vet’s waiting room, and wherever your dog goes. No need to go pup-arazzi style, but the funniest and most engaging visual moments I’ve shared have been when my dog is doing sweet and innocent nothings -- which can turn into big somethings online.

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Dexter, my raspberry blowing king.

There you have it. It might not happen overnight, but social-media stardom can be done. Be sure to never put a dog in harm's way or make her do anything uncomfortable or upsetting in order to get a good photo or post. Most of all, avoid pitfalls by having fun and bonding with your dog. It worked for Timmy and Lassie in the well, and it works for Boo and his mom on Facebook.

Does your dog have a social-media presence? Bark at me below and share your links. I love making new friends as much as my dog does. You can follow my Dexter on Facebook. 

In case you're one of the few who hasn't fallen under the spell of this endlessly entertaining -- and surprisingly scholarly -- dusting-off of buried treasure and miscellaneous junque that folks find in nooks and grannies' attics, know that it's PBS's most-watched primetime series.

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A Buster Brown advertisement.

The influential show has left many marks in the decorative-arts milieu -- like the time, earlier this year,one of its appraisers greeted the daughter of an ex-Royal Observer Corps member.

She came bearing 15 original copies of the iconic "Keep Calm and Carry On," the morale-boosting WWII British propaganda poster. It was believed there were only two known surviving examples outside government archives. By now, that poster is hot stuff on our shores -- one can hardly pass a purveyor of wall art without seeing a reproduction of its stiff-upper-lip slogan. Its dog-friendly reincarnation, "Keep Calm and Walk the Dog," is even emblazoned on retractable leashes! 

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A dog-themed illustration by Arthur Rackham.

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Appraiser Nan Chisholm (right) and a guest with her 1963 Fred Machetanz oil painting. Photo by Jeffrey Dunn. 

So it stands to reason that it was just a matter of time before Roadshow went to the dogs. And so it has, quite glamorously.

Of tonight's special, Roadshow executive producer Marsha Bemko promises, "You'll see fine and furry friends taking all shapes and sizes ... You won't want to miss [it]."

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Guest with a Roseville ivory dog figurine.

The episode will include appraisals featuring canines (and felines, too, for connoisseurs of cat collectibles), sculpted, painted on canvas, and immortalized in pop-culture fossils.

In the latter category, the paws-down most droolworthy item is, in my humble opinion, the one that portrays Pit Bull pride: a vintage Buster Brown Shoes advertisement featuring Buster's adorable brindle pittie, Tige.

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Appraiser Alan Fausel with a guest and his 19th-century oil painting by John Emms. Photo by Jeffrey Dunn.

Also wonderful are the mouthwatering robin's-egg-blue Minton plates depicting dogs painted by the renowned canine artist Sir Edwin Landseer, which the design hound in me is hungry to set the table with at a dinner party. Delicious!

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Sir Edwin Landseer dog plate.

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Francis Calcraft Turner oil painting, 1835.

I also wouldn't mind giving pride of place at my pad to the painted collector's cabinet, circa 1900, whose every front drawer panel sports a sweet dog scene.

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A collector's cabinet, c. 1900.

(Actually, this object could give decoratively DIY-inclined Dogster readers some neat ideas for spiffing up a tired old chest of drawers.) 

Watch Cats & Dogs - Preview on PBS. See more from Antiques Roadshow.

Meanwhile, methinks writer's block would simply never be an obstacle if only the fabulous Fabergé desk-set straight edge were sitting pretty in my dog writer's office. And for a pawsome paperweight, check out the sleeping ceramic dog by Roseville.

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Fabergé desk-set straight-edge.

Check your local PBS listings for show schedules.

Do you have a dog-themed collectible lying around and gathering dust? What are you planning to do with it? Please tell us in the comments!

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This is the face I make when it rains. Photo: Big dog wearing big red rubber boots by Shutterstock.com

Maybe I should download Weather Puppy, an iPhone app that brightens dreary weather forecasts with ... a puppy! Even the rainiest day can't scare me back into bed when I've got an adorable puppy delivering the wet news. Gosh, maybe one day I'll even see snow (I've never seen snow in person), as long as Weather Puppy leads the way.

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Pretty glad I'm not in Portland.

It's a simple yet brilliant concept. Weather Puppy delivers the weather for your region, accompanied by a photo of a puppy. The puppies alternate as the weather changes, so at first you're like, "Bummer! Rain!" and then you're like, "Oh sweet, a PUPPY!" It sure turns my raincloud frown upside down.

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Awww!

We can't control the weather -- or much else, for that matter -- but we can control how we confront obstacles, and Weather Puppy is just the thing to help make things easier.

Via Tech Crunch

Before we do, however, you should be aware of Howard and wife Beth's bona fides when it comes to dogs. They're not shabby.

The pair have rescued multiple dogs and cats. In 2010, Beth published Oh My Dog: How to Choose, Train, Groom, Nurture, Feed, and Care for Your New Best Friend. Beth is also heavily into animal advocacy, and she is a spokesperson for the North Shore Animal League, the world's largest no-kill animal adoption and rescue group. She was also named one of Petside’s 25 Pet People of 2011.

In July, the couple's bulldog Bianca, which they adopted 10 years ago from a rescue, passed away. Stern has railed against Vick in the past. He and Beth have Bianca's name tattooed on their arms.  

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Stern and Bianca. Photo via Twitter.

Okay? Good. Take it away, Howard: 

"Well, when I saw the news I was dumbfounded. It baffles the mind really."

"Everything has calmed down for this guy, he's gotten his career back on track ... things are quiet. But instead of keeping things quiet, the way he should, he decides he's going to get a dog. 

"What the ?$&!* is that all about?"

(Oh, if you didn't know, Stern works blue. Satellite radio and all.)

"Michael Vick should never own a pet."

"This is no different than Rihanna getting back together with Chris Brown." 

"Get the dog away from him. There should have been something written where he could never own a dog." 

Robin: "It would be like Jerry Sandusky getting hold of a children's group again." 

Howard: "It would be like if Casey Anthony filled out adoption papers for a baby and got one." 

"Isn't there someone in his life that says, 'Listen, Michael, You're a dopey guy, you're a big, dumb ?$&!* jock. You're a football player. Let me think for you. You can't have a dog. You can't have a cat. You can't have a HAMSTER YOU ?$&!* ?$&!*  You blew it! If you really want a pet, it's not in this lifetime. And your kids when they get older can get one.'"

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Bianca. Photo via Twitter.

"This ?$&!* guy should not be around dogs. He's got a hostility to dogs. I don't know what happened in his life, but he shouldn't be allowed to be near a ... it's CRAZY."

"Why would he stir this up? He's insane. This guy's insane. Of course he's insane. Who could look at a little dog and kill it?"

If you'd like to listen to it yourself, click here.

Dogster Poll: Is Howard Stern right about Michael Vick?

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Dogs have rolled their way into all facets of our lives.

From the annals of “then versus now,” here are eight of the prominent changes in the dog world over the past 20 years.

1. Diet

As a kid, I distinctly recall my mother buying canned dog food from the grocery store and mixing it with whatever leftovers remained from supper: This was the dog’s diet, and Candy lived to a ripe old age. We never walked the aisles of a pet-supply superstore because, of course, they did not exist.

How we feed and what we feed (and greater attention paid to the ingredients found in Fido’s food) is one of the major changes to hit the canine scene since 1992. In the 19th century, meat started being fed to dogs, and in the 1860s, dog food found a niche. It was after World War I that horse meat made its way into commercial dog foods.

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Dogs love a good snack just like their human counterparts.

The variety and types of foods we feed Fido have evolved -- dry food, canned food, soft-moist food, rehydrated/raw diets, home cooked, natural/organic, the list goes on. Where we purchase the food is evolving as well, with pet supply stores, veterinary prescribed, mail order, and online. There's also custom diets, canine cookbooks, and rotation diets. 

Having had a dog with irritable bowel disease (who heard of that 20 years ago?), I am more cognizant of what my dog eats and the ingredients the food contains. No doubt, throngs of Dogster readers read a dog food label with the scrutiny of a Sherlock Holmes.

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Dietary advancements mean dogs are living healthier and longer.

2. Health care

One of the major changes in canine world over the past 20 years resides in the health care domain, from specialists to over-vaccination awareness and everything in between. In 1990, not many dogs were getting MRIs, lining up for canine acupuncture, or taking a nutraceutical, such as glucosamine for improved joint mobility.

Dogs are living longer, thanks in large part to owner-veterinary communication and advances in veterinary medicine. Laser surgery and laparoscopic procedures enable vets to more seamlessly heal Fido’s ailments with quicker recovery times. 

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They share our lives, steal our hearts, and dogs are part of the family.

My previous Cocker Spaniel was affected by a mast cell tumor, a potentially aggressive form of canine skin cancer. Because our vet was able to use laser equipment, cleaner margins were obtained, a quicker recovery time resulted, and she lived to be one week shy of 15 years young.

My present dog, Dexter, was neutered via laser surgery and was able to come home the very same day. In fact, I waited at the vet while the surgery occurred and had Dexter in tow, driving home with me a few hours later. Talk about nip, tuck, and go.

3. Verbiage

Yesterday’s Rex is today’s Romeo, as everything from what we name our dogs to the lingo applied to dog food has evolved and changed. Here are few terms with a fast-forward update.

Then -- Now
Dry food -- Kibble
Dog coop -- Dog bed
Mutt -- Designer dog
No Dogs Allowed -- Pet Welcoming
Owner -- Dog Parent
Animal -- Furkid
Kennel -- Doggie daycare

4. Dog-friendly everything

Pet-friendly vacations are becoming a staple in many families, and hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts are rolling out the red carpet to this rising trend. Websites and books devoted to the topic are now commonplace. Growing up, however, the family dog stayed behind when we hit the open road.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, released the 14th edition this year. As someone who has not taken a vacation without a dog in close to 20 years, I can attest to the joys of finding destinations that welcome dogs.

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Life's a beach, says Dexter, with me on a recent pet-friendly trip.

5. Products

For those of us who grew up with dogs, do you recall the family dog having toys that talked, treats in a bevy of flavors, placemats, leashes to match the season, clothes, and his own bed? Me either.

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Dog toys have changed and the pet industry is cashing in.

Of the nearly $52 billion the American Pet Products Association expects people to spend on their pets in 2012, supplies (including over-the-counter medicine) account for almost $12 billion of that. 

Having walked the show floor of industry shows like the Global Pet Expo and Superzoo, I’ve seen the products that will soon hit store shelves. In the early 1990s, who ever would have imagined a GPS tracking collar, programmable water and feeding systems, or earth friendly eco toys would be offered to dogs?

6. Resources

The Internet has changed the face of how we obtain products and services for Fido, but also how we obtain dogs in general, for better or for worse (i.e., puppy mills). Betsy Banks Saul changed the face of pet adoption when she co-founded Petfinder, the largest online database of adoptable pets.

When I interviewed Saul last year, she revealed she never could have imagined the impact the idea formed in 1996 would have on pet adoption overall. With its 15-year celebration in 2011, the pet-adoption giant marked close to 18 million adoptions, a number they have since surpassed.

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Dogs are pack and family members.

The resources available about dogs are immeasurable. I never thought I would be walking through the doors of a pet bloggers’ conference, but there I was in 2009 at BlogPaws pet bloggers’ conference meeting hundreds of others with a similar purpose in mind: Affect the care and well-being of our non-human family members.

7. Role changes

How to best utilize the many facets of a dog’s personality has come into its own, with dogs used for pet therapy, search and rescue, seizure alert, arson, emotional support, service, the list goes on.

As a teenager, I recall the fascination I felt when I saw a woman with a German Shepherd (her seeing eye dog) walking into the town’s True Value store. Dogster’s own Maria Goodavage writes of military dogs and their handlers in the bestseller Soldier Dogs.

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We celebrate together, with our dogs, at birthday parties and more.

And in his Hero Dogs of 9/11 television special, Kenn Bell shared the stories of the 300 dogs who came to the site of the World Trade Center tragedy to scour for survivors and comfort those who needed a friend.

8. Humanization of dogs

Perhaps one of the biggest non-tangible ways dogs have evolved in our lives is in the way we treat them. For many, dogs are the new kids. No longer are we the “crazy dog people” when planning a birthday party for Chico, attending a pet wedding for Romeo, or setting up play dates with a local group of friends (or is that fur-ends?).

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Canine couture is all the rage and totally the norm.

Our furbabies enter costume contests, walk the fashion runways, and eat in restaurants with us. The definition of "family" has evolved. We have the white picket fences, but dogs are behind them. We go to work, but pet-friendly jobs are a part of our culture. It is said that every dog will have its day, and luckily for the more than 72 million of us who embrace this philosophy, it seems as though our time has arrived.

Dogster readers, what do you think is a big change in the dog world over these past 20 years? Bark back at us in the comments!

If you did, you doubtless fell in love with its four-footed star, a rapscallion of a romantic leading man, er, dog, named Uggie. This Russell Terrier's expressions are so priceless, they recall the immortal words of Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard's sepulchral silent-screen siren: "We didn't need voices -- we had faces."

Many decades had elapsed between the silent film era and The Artist, which updated the silent movie genre for the 21st century and not only made a matinee idol out of Uggie, but rocketed him into the celebrity stratosphere. On Oct. 16, his tail-all memoir, Uggie: My Story, will be released by Gallery Books. We have a copy of it that we'll give to one lucky reader. Read on for details.

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Uggie with Jean Dujardin.

The book's cover sports a suitably swanky still of the sexy beast; around his neck is a black silk bow tie anchored by a $60,000 bone-shaped charm, designed by famed French jeweler Chopard and engraved with the dog's name. (After Uggie wore it, the bauble was auctioned for charity.)

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Uggie is "delighted" with the book's cover design, he informs Dogster through his ghost writer, Wendy Holden. "Although," he adds, "it was a tough decision to choose from the hundreds of photos of moi taken over the years. The truth is I rarely look anything but adorable in pictures, although some would say that I sit on my best side!"

But don't just judge this book by its cover. It's also a rollicking romp of a read -- and it's dedicated "to Reese," as in Witherspoon, Uggie's co-star in his previous film Water for Elephants.

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A kiss for Reese Witherspoon.

Of all the perks that came with canine celebrity, what's been Uggie's favorite thus far? "That's a hard one. Cookies fashioned in my image? Five-star hotels? Sending p-mails on the red carpet? No, it would have to be meeting and falling for the great love of my life, Reese Witherspooon -- oh, and French-kissing Betty White!"

In the silent spotlight, a powerful performance by a talented canine actor can really knock a picture out of the park. To quote Norma Desmond again (from the musical version of Sunset), "With one look, I can break your heart." 

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Katy Perry loves Uggie.

There are no Oscars for dog performers, alas, so Uggie didn't experience the honor of being nominated by the Academy. That's OK -- the "Consider Uggie" campaign garnered 20,000-plus "Likes" on Facebook and, Uggie dishes, "there are already moves a-paw to try to get me considered for a special award next year. I try to stay humble in the face of all this public adoration, but the truth is, I worked as hard as any human actor on The Artist, and taught them a thing or two about the craft of silent movie-making. I have a Palm Dog [the canine equivalent of the Cannes Film Festival's coveted top prize, the Palme d'Or] but an Oscar would sure look good on my grand piano!"

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Uggie lookin' sharp with Kevin Spacey.

Of all the actors in the cinema pantheon, of any species, whose work does Uggie most admire? That he answers without a second's hesitation: Moose, the Russell who played Eddie on TV's Frasier. "He is a personal hero of mine, not least because he suggested using sardine oil for licking scenes -- yum! But his ability to out-stare a human is legendary and he was the first to give Jack Russell 'Terrorists' a good name."

Speaking of terrorists, er, Terriers, being born an earthdog is a lucky accident indeed, which doubtless gave Uggie an unfair dose of canine charisma. "I was blessed with fine Terrier lines, innate good looks, natural charisma, and charm aplenty, and, yes, it gives me an unfair advantage over many," he says. "But this is a dog-eat-dog business. Even George Clooney recognizes my superior qualities, but he is man enough to know when he's beat and agreed to pose with me at the Oscar roundtable."

What advice would Uggie give to young pups who hope to follow in his paw-prints? "Work out your sausage quota early on and stick to it. Remember, an agent is the guy who resents the 80 percent of his income that you take; 20 percent of sausages is a lot to give up after a hard day on the set!" 

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Uggie is an Aquarian and proud of it. Where did this dog star develop his keen interest in the zodiac? "Watching an astrology channel on daytime TV with my frat brother Gordo on the new plasma I bought the family," he says. "I am an Aquarian by birth and nature, and so is my agent and acting coach Omar Von Muller. Together, we rock!"

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Uggie dresses up with Omar Von Muller.

Of late, Uggie experienced some health challenges due to a neurological condition, but he overcame them. How has this affected his daily routine? "I am still so busy I don't have a routine, but there's now a rider in my contracts that I must have more rest periods between engagements, for which I am truly grateful. My snoring is well-documented, however, so they have to park my air-conditioned trailer way away from the rest!"

His handlers have, wisely, adjusted Uggie's diet to be more health-conscious -- and Uggie has adjusted to the new spa cuisine with characteristic aplomb. "My personal preference for pizza and sausages has got me into some trouble in the past," he confesses, "and Omar now mostly feeds me a raw food diet of meat and vegetables, all ground up into a delicious pink and green mush. But I still get to have my treats, and when traveling first class, I am offered everything from Kobe beef to champagne!"

As for Uggie's off-set activities? "I do a lot of doga, usually lying full stretch in front of the plasma."

Win a copy of Uggie's book

To win a copy of Uggie: My story, leave a comment below answering the following question: If your dog wrote a book, what would it say? The story we like best will be the winner.

To be eligible, you must use your Disqus account to comment below. Creating a profile and avatar takes just a minute, and is a great way to participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. (And note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid e-mail address, you can't win because we can't contact you. So please check your account.)

We'll notify the winner by e-mail, and you have two days to respond before we choose someone else.

The deadline is 12 noon PST on Monday, Oct. 22. Good luck!

Here are the 10 best places pets can get some higher learning, too (arranged in order of awesomeness):

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At Stephens College, dogs are royalty.

Pet Policy: Unfortunately, fish are the only pets allowed in residence halls. On the other paw, the university permits fraternity and sorority houses to have one cat or dog.

9. MIT, Cambridge, Mass.

Pet Policy: Felines must help big brains grow even bigger, because MIT allows students to keep kitties. Any felines boarding at the university must stick to the cat-friendly areas of campus and be approved by the dorm's Pet Chair.

8. UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, Moscow, Idaho

Pet Policy: The University of Idaho permits cats and small birds in any of their apartment-style residence halls. Students are restricted to two cats or birds per apartment.

7. SUNY CANTON, Canton, N.Y.

Pet Policy: SUNY Canton offers attendees with animals a special pet wing in its dorms, where cats and small caged animals are allowed.

6. CALTECH, Pasadena, Calif.

Pet Policy: Multiple residence halls at CalTech allow students to keep up to two cats, as long as they follow the school's guidelines. Additionally, CalTech has a volunteer program devoted to caring for feral cats who live on the campus grounds. This group's policies have been adopted by other colleges.

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Principia College has an animal relations committee!

5. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Champaign, Ill.

Pet Policy: Students who live in the school's Ashton Woods housing unit are allowed to keep up to two pets per apartment. Approved critters include cats, dogs, rabbits and fish.

4. WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE, Washington, Pa. 

Pet Policy: Washington & Jefferson College is welcoming to most critters. The school allows students to bring dogs under 40 pounds, cats, small birds, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and fish.

3. ECKERD COLLEGE, Saint Petersburg, Fla.

Pet Policy: As long as you make sure to properly register your pet, Eckerd College is open to almost any animal. The school allows student to bring dogs under 40 pounds, cats, ducks, ferrets, rabbits, caged animals, amphibians and fish.

2. PRINCIPIA COLLEGE, Elsah, Ill.

Pet Policy: Principia permits cat, dogs, rabbits, caged animals and fish in the residence halls. To make sure the dorms don't become too much of a zoo, the school has an animal relations committee that makes sure things stay safe for both humans and pets.

1. STEPHENS COLLEGE, Columbia, Mo.

Pet Policy: Pets aren't just allowed at Stephens College, they are treated like royalty. The school has a pet-centered dorm that accepts almost any animal. The facility also includes a doggie daycare. Stephens takes its love for animals one step further, by offering a program for students to foster animals from local no-kill shelters.

Reader Poll: Would you like to attend a pet-friendly school?

This article first ran on Pawnation. See more recent stories from their site:

Embarrassed Pets and Their Awkward Families

Photo of Man and Dog Sparks a Movement

Help Your Dog Live Years Longer

So reads the tag line for Seven Psychopaths. What movie in cinema history ever gave such high billing to a fancy dog breed? That could be a very dubious distinction, but in the case of this movie, it's one more in a list of things to like. Although it features a canine actor in a pivotal role, Seven Psychopaths is not a dog movie; it's a movie, period, and a good one, about what -- and who -- unravels when gangster Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson) realizes his beloved pet, Bonny the Shih Tzu, has been dognapped.

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Christopher Walken with the dognapped Bonny.

Seven Psychopaths is the latest feature film from Irish playwright-screenwriter Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), who manages a motley mashup of movie genres -- buddy flick, film noir (okay, in color) and, yes, shaggy dog story -- that's enormously entertaining from beginning to end. A little bit Kill Bill, a little bit Adaptation, a dash of Deepak Chopra -- think of this as a peace-mongering shoot-'em-up, an urbane Western for spiritual searchers, a thinking person's popcorn flick. McDonagh was smart to make a cute little dog his movie's prime mover.

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Bonny gets to know Colin Farrell.

What's a psychopath, anyway? This movie offers seven interpretations, plus a few extra for good measure. The normal one, i.e. the little dog, is a strong, silent foil for all these wackos, a calm port in the psycho storm. Bonny is her name in real life (where she's a she) and in the film, where she plays a he. A mere pup of 10 months when first discovered by Performing Animal Troupe last October, then groomed for her big-screen debut, Bonny more than holds her own alongside her powerfully charismatic co-stars, who include Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Tom Waits, and Christopher Walken.

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Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Bonny negotiate the canine hostage situation.

Bonny's other credits include an episode of the Comedy Central series Key and Peele and commercials for Watch ESPN and Capital One. And speaking of credits, fans of American Humane Association will be pleased to see the prestigious "No Animals Were Harmed" end credit. One more note on credits: You'd be well advised not to slip out of the theater too fast. Sit, stay, and watch those credits roll, or you'll miss a choice scene with Tom Waits (as Zachariah, aka Psychopath Number Seven, who won't leave home without his white rabbit).

The movie arrives in theaters October 12. Do you plan on seeing it, Dogsters?

In the meantime, watch the official trailer here.

Their pup is an adorable mutt, mostly terrier with a smattering of Beagle. The wife wants to name him something dignified. She would even be happy with Charles. Not Charlie; Charles. "To us he's like a little person, and his name shouldn't be too doglike. He's not a Fido or a Ralph," she told me. (I didn't tell her that Ralph is a person's name, too.)

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It did not take long for us to name this dog. He is a Jake, through and through. (Photo by Maria Goodavage)

The husband would prefer something cooler, not common, and "really awesome." Problem is, he can't even come up with a name he likes, much less one they agree on. "It's not something to be rushed into, but I had no idea it would take this long," he said as his nameless pup slept in his lap.

So this scruffy little fellow remains nameless. Actually, I think he may be starting to think his name is "Off." I noticed this when the wife lovingly but firmly told him "off" when he was gnawing on the corner of a throw pillow. He came running to her, tail wagging. She told him, "Good Off!" and that really made him wag.

It seems Off is not alone in mistaking his name. In an entertaining column in Psychology Today, esteemed canine psychogist and author Stanley Coren wrote about a dog named Polar who really thought his name was "No." "On the basis of what he had experienced during his life, the sound that he had heard most frequently associated with consequences for him personally was 'No.' In Polar's mind, then, 'No!' was his name!" wrote Coren.

It's estimated that over the course of your dog's lifetime, you'll use his or her name 35,000 times. So it's understandable that some people would get a bit bogged down.

Lack of being able to make a decision has never been my problem, so when I got my Airedale 21 years ago, I named him Joe as soon as I saw him. At the time, I had no human children. My dad, also a Joe, had just died, and he always had joked about being sure to name all my children "Joe." That was a no-brainer, and I'm sure my dad had a good chuckle from beyond.

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My old Airedale, Joe, was named after my dad. Naming him was easy. Getting him to stay away from leather was another story. (Photo by Maria Goodavage)

After Joe died in 2002, we decided to foster a dog. This nameless six-month-old Lab walked into our home with his rescuer. He looked and acted a lot like the dog my young human daughter had always drawn to accompany Joe in her cartoons. She'd named the dog Jake. This pup, who would go on to make us a failed foster family, embodied everything Jake. There was no choice in the matter. (Never mind that Jake is one of the most common dog names out there, and when I call him in a place where there are lots of other dogs, he's not the only one who comes running.)

Clearly, I'm not one to identify with the people who own Off in their nomenclature hell. But because of them, dog names are on my mind a lot this week.

So I ask: What's your dog's name, and how did you come up with it (if your dog wasn't already named when you got him)? Did it take you a while or was it a pretty quick decision? I'm also curious about this: If you adopted a dog with a name, did you keep the name or change it? Let's talk!

I buy cotton swabs, I use baby wipes on my dog after a muddied walk or rainy day, and I could probably circumnavigate the globe twice with the amount of paper towels I’ve used in a lifetime of what some would call dog ownership. I like to call it pet parenting.

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Dog mom and her furkid on vacation.

I embrace that I do things with my dog in 2012 that perhaps others who went before me did not (or could not) do with their pooches. I look back on my childhood and cringe: The “family dog” wasn’t allowed in the living room, and I still wonder whether she ever even saw anything above the basement, where she was “allowed” to sleep on colder nights.

Humanizing our pets has taken a stronghold on this country; in fact, some might argue that “dogs are the new kids” is becoming a worldwide trend. Insert backflip and cartwheel here. Science has finally caught on to what those of us with a special connection to dogs have known forever: Dogs have the propensity to feel many of the same emotions humans do. It's even written about in big-name journals such as Psychology Today.

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I purchased this bag recently. One of my new favorite dog mom accessories.

But even though I consider myself a dog mom, I know that my dog isn't a child. If the fates honor me with my dog-sharing life for a solid 15 years or more, unlike a teenager at age 15, my dog isn’t asking for the car keys, won’t enter the dating world, and will never become a source of gray hair as I worry because he is out 10 minutes past curfew. His time is getting limited, at this ripe old age.

The lifespan of a dog is short -- a flicker, if you will, compared with a human's. He will pass from this world and leave behind a hole in my heart where it used to be, well, “whole.” I’ve been down this road, and I will again and again. How about you?

I live a bit more vicariously and in the moment since becoming a dog mom: And after all, aren’t dogs always living in the moment? They’ve taught me well, these creatures kids called dogs. I’ve yet to see my dog worry about what just happened, or panic at something that’s going down tomorrow. Dogs have taught me to live life to its fullest because at any time, it can end.

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He makes me laugh, my furry kid.

I spoil my dog, some might say. He certainly does not need eight leashes, four water bowls, a weekly trip (or more) to the pet supply store, organized play dates, and (the horror, get ready): a blog inspired by his life with mine and a canine-centric career choice.

It's my life, and it's fun. Dexter is happy, too. Dogs need to be well cared for and doted upon to the degree it makes dog mom or dog dad happy and does not put Fido in harm’s way. In fact, if you reread that sentence, there’s a mantra in there.

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Dogs do smile. They live in the moment..

Dogs live short lives; we know this when we accept the responsibility of dog parenting. I shop in the same stores as moms with human children, yet there is a stigma that in some way it might be odd to consider me a mom. My credit cards are accepted, my legal tender works the same way, I shop and bargain hunt in a similar capacity, and oh: I tell my friends and followers, who, in turn, listen to me and my sagely advice. Then they go to the stores or visit a website and do the same things, as dog moms and dog dads. And I know I am not alone. 

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Irie and Tiki know their mom loves dogs: She's the "Dogtipper!"

“Since moms are the primary decisionmakers for the majority of household purchases, a few years ago mom bloggers really caught the attention of brands and continue to grow as important influencers,” says Paris Permenter of award-winning dog blog DogTipper. "I think pet bloggers have much the same influence, reaching an audience that makes purchasing decisions not only for their pets but also for their entire household.

“Whether that household includes two-legged children or not, I think pet households have many of the same concerns as young families. Pee and poop are ongoing topics in pet households; unlike in homes with growing infants and toddlers, these remain topics of conversation (and purchases) in pet families throughout the years.”

Permenter is a successful professional writer with close to 30 books to her name, many of which she penned with her husband, John Bigley. She has two adult stepdaughters, so the savvy mom of human and dog variety is a parent indeed.

“Love isn’t limited to our own species,” she muses.

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Dog blogger extraordinaire, Paris Permenter, in a moment of fun with her pooch.

I feel like the brands of the world often miss a huge marketplace with us dog moms and dads. The Wall Street Journal recently revealed that “PetSmart Thrives Treating Owners Like Pet Parents.” We’re not losing our marbles, we’re being embraced and converted to dollar signs, for wag’s sake! With the American Pet Products Association reporting an estimated $52 billion projected to be spent in the pet industry in 2012, I realize I am not alone. Hello, brands: It’s me, the dog mom.

Fellow pet blogger Pamela Webster wrote on her Something Wagging This Way Comes blog recently, “I don’t love my dog because she’s the next best thing to having a kid. I love her because she’s my dog. And for some of us, that’s good enough.” The title of her post is “Is a Dog as Good as a Child?” Suffice it to say, this is a hotly contested topic.

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For many, a dog is as good as a human child.

Active pet parents do not go gently into the night: In fact, we start petitions and we get people to notice us. Mary Haight of Dancing Dog Blog and Animal Café knows all about this. Thanks to a petition she began, nearly 155,000 signatures were collected asking PetLand to stop selling live animals. The Huffington Post named the petition as one of its favorites. Not bad for a dog mom, eh?

Last but not least: Dog moms and dads go to pet blogger conferences, where my life was changed in 2009. I walked through the doors, held my head high, felt a twinge of nervousness, but wanted to see “what this pet blogging talk” was all about. I left a changed woman. Oh, and the entire event of more than 400 people, dozens of brands, and a weekend of seminars and knowledge-based sessions was pet-friendly. I sat with my dog near my feet as my life changed. Talk about a full-circle moment.

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Pet bloggers get together at BlogPaws' conferences and unite online year-round.

“We’re consumers. We party, we shop, we bathe, we walk our dogs in strollers, we do all the same things mommy bloggers do,” BlogPaws’ co-founder Yvonne DiVita says. “Our community is on the pulse of all things pet: from dogs to cats, rabbits to ferrets, and everything in between.”

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Yep, we even attend formal events together. Let the good times roll!

The proof is in the numbers for some. More than 5,000 buyers representing 65 countries attended Global Pet Expo 2012,  the pet industry’s largest trade show spanning the size of 16 football fields. I was there. I walked among the throngs of people clamoring for the latest and greatest in pet products and services. Someone came back from that trade show and told their friends about those products, shared videos and pictures, tweeted and "Liked," and then did it some more. Guess who? Me and my posse of pet parents who want purchase influencers to know we’re more than the person holding the other end of the leash.

We shop. We buy. Some of us even tuck their kids dogs in at night. I’m a dog mom and I’m here to stay. How about you?

What we'd like to know is why they didn't call us to test their theories? We could have told them from experience that cuteness makes you sharper -- how do you think we all got so smart?

In a series of tests, researchers at Japan's Hiroshima University asked 48 subjects -- all between the ages of 18 and 22, right handed, and equally divided between men and women -- to play a game similar to the classically anxiety-inducing Operation after viewing a variety of images ranging from food, people, and adult and baby animals. The experiment was designed to test for fine motor dexterity. During the multiple times subjects played the game, they were shown images of puppies and kittens before at least one of those sessions. (We bet they showed them Dogster and Catster.) 

The results? In the rounds following the puppy and kitten viewings, subjects performed about 44 percent better. Viewing adult dogs and cats also helped subjects play the game better, but only by 5 percent. 

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Photo: Cute puppies of Samoyed dog by Shutterstock.com

In another experiment designed to test concentration, 16 students were given the task of identifying a particular number (for example, the number 6) out of a group of 40 printed on sheets of paper without pointing. They were similarly shown images of baby animals, grown-up animals, and foods such as pasta, steak, and sushi. Students performed better after viewing baby animals, while images of adult animals and food had no effect.

In their last test, a set of 36 subjects were tested for focus by responding to letters on a screen. Again, the group of 18 women and 18 men was shown images of baby animals, adult animals, and appetizing food. And again, subjects who looked at the baby animals were able to focus better than the subjects who looked at adult animals or food.

This is science, people!

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Photo: Trained dogs in glasses with books by Shutterstock.com

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Photo: Cute puppy lying on the ground by Shutterstock.com

While the study did not explore how and why looking at cute adorable fuzzy babies makes us smarter, researchers concluded "that perceiving cuteness not only improves fine motor skills but also increases perceptual carefulness." The researchers added, "This study provides further evidence that perceiving cuteness exerts immediate effects on cognition and behavior in a wider context than that related to caregiving or social interaction."

Tell us something we don't know!

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Photo: Puppy of a Yorkshire Terrier by Shutterstock.com

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Photo: Chamomile flowers and French Bulldog puppy by Shutterstock.com

But let's put ourselves to the test, shall we?

First, complete a task that requires dexterity, concentration, and focus (flinging crumpled paper balls into the trash can perhaps?) and record how you did. Now scroll through videos and photos provided by yours truly, your faithful Cuteness Correspondent, and try that task again. Did you do better this time around? Let us know in the comments and we'll get Japan on the phone.

Via Mashable and CBS News

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My cosmic niche is exploring how people's star signs are revealed in their lifestyle choices. I write the monthly Star Style column on astrology and lifestyle/design for Meredith Corporation'sTraditional Home magazine.

Living with dogs is a lifestyle choice, so I'm fascinated by the different ways people of different signs display affection for beloved pets. Right now, until Oct. 22, it's Libra season, so the celestial spotlight shines on those born under the sign of the scales.

Ruled by Venus, planet of love and beauty, Libra adores fashion and design, so any dog who lives with a Libra native will enjoy a life of high style. The home Libra shares with a beloved dog is a sweet home indeed. Libra natives have an unerring, innate gift for design -- it's the sign of the scales, after all, so that explains their instinct for balance, which is important when you're decorating any environment, indoors or out.

Not surprisingly, many world-class designers are Libras, among them Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Adrienne Vittadini, Clodagh, and Barbara Barry (who has a new luggage collection). These designers move with grace between the worlds of fashion and home design. The above-mentioned designing Libras are also all serious dog lovers, as is Celerie Kemble, who is often photographed with her sidekick, a Parson Russell Terrier named Anchovy.

Libras' lucky dogs have more critter comforts than most, resting their heads on the plushest dog beds, enjoying food and water served in bowls elegantly elevated for dining and drinking comfort, wearing designer collars, playing with lots of fancy toys, and stepping out for brisk winter walks in the most stylin' coats and sweaters.

Libra Dogsters proudly wear their hearts on their sleeves, displaying K9 love for all to see, but they will do so in high style. For proof, check out the cool Companion Wear bracelet codesigned by Libra Laura Betti of Pause Dog Boutique.

Libras heart the arts in every form, whether it's painting and poetry or music and dance. This is the sign most likely to collect dog art and/or commission a portrait of a beloved pet, whether as a photograph, a painting, a sculpture, a drawing, or folk-art sign. A dog belonging to a Libra who makes his living as an artist can expect to do a fair amount of modeling duty -- as talented wood-carver Tim Racer's pit bulls can attest.

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Artist Tim Racer in his studio with Pit Bull sidekick Honky.

Many Libras play the piano, so the Libra dog will chillax to lots of ivory-tickling at home, as the multitalented Isaac Mizrahi's two lucky adopted dogs, Harry and Dean, would tell you (if only they were as talkative as their human).

Admirably selfless in love, Libra natives always place the needs of their loved ones ahead of their own, which goes double for their beloved dogs and for all animals. They will relentlessly crusade for the cause of adopting shelter dogs.

Libra Doug DeLuca of Federal Company, sought-after designer of interiors and exteriors in the Washington, DC area, whose many fans include the Viking Range Co., adores his two adopted shelter dogs, Bandit and Stella; Doug also sits on the board of his favorite charity, the Washington Animal Rescue League, and tirelessly advocates on behalf of WARL's adoptable dogs and cats. In classic Libra style, he walks the dog-walk, wearing an "ADOPT" cap that proclaims pound-pup pride!

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Doug DeLuca with rescues Bandit and Stella.

Libras' sweet tooth is legendary, but they will take care to bake or acquire sweets with an eye to safely sharing a morsel with their beloved dogs. That means no chocolate cakes or cookies, as the theobromine in cocoa is toxic to dogs. Libras will elect to indulge instead in gingerbread, banana bread, carrot cake, lemon cake, or pumpkin pie, so Spot may safely snatch up some crumbs. Libran Daniellan Louie of New York City's Ivy Bakery creates mouthwatering treats for dogs in addition to the many irresistible goodies she lovingly whips up for human consumption -- and, in true Libra spirit, she's wonderfully gracious about working with dog lovers to customize treat recipes for canine customers.

World-famous astrologer Katharine Merlin (check out her forecasts every month in Town & Country magazine) is a Libra with a Sagittarius Moon, so she has a passion for horses, animals, and nature in all its glorious forms. She's a Dogster, too, with fond memories of her late, great Collies Jill (the dog of her childhood) and Jessie. Luckily for her readers, Merlin is busy at work on a new book, The Sun Sign Chronicles, and a new pet horoscopes feature on her web site! Watch for it!

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Dr. Jennifer Jablow (above) is the ultimate Libra Dogster: New York City's dentist to the stars treats celebrities as well as the famed Ford Models. She lavishes love on her Shih Tzus, Bianca and Chester, but her spare time is spent rescuing less-fortunate dogs and volunteering her time to help raise awareness of pet adoption. "Rescued dogs are the real stars," she says. "They're so grateful when you open your heart and home to them. They overcome so much in their lives, and yet they're still open to loving again."

To help dogs put their best teeth forward, Jablow created Pawfect Smile, the K9 version of IntelliWhite, her signature oral-care system which takes the handy form of a pen. A portion of proceeds from sales goes to one of Jablow's pet causes, North Shore Animal League America.

"Pawfect Smile is formulated with human-grade ingredients, in flavors pets and people can agree on vanilla and peanut butter," she says. "So dogs love the way it tastes, and we love the way their breath smells." That's so Libra!

When the dentist is a Libra, even she has a weakness for sweet baked goods. Jablow's favorite confection is a cupcake, and when I adopted a Pit Bull who was already, to my dismay, pre-named Cupcake, she pleaded with me not to change the dog's handle. Okay, I replied; then to be fair, her full name is ... Cupcake Jablow!  True to her sign, the good doc did not object.

If you like what you hear and you're looking for a Libra life companion, know that this sign enjoys cosmic compatibility with almost everyone, so your chances are very good! The signs that are most compatible with Libra are Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, and Gemini.

Libra Dogsters and friends/lovers of Libra Dogsters, we'd like to hear from you, so please share your thoughts in the comments!

If you're not familiar with the original 1984 black-and-white short film, Frankenweenie is the story of a boy who turns to unconventional means to raise his tragically deceased dog, Sparky, back from the dead. But when Sparky gets loose, he unleashes chaos upon the neighborhood.

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Raising a dog from the dead: dangerous or devotion?

When Tim Burton originally conceived Frankenweenie, he intended to create a full-length stop-motion feature, but due to budgeting restraints he had to settle for the live-action short we know and love. By returning to this story of love lost and curiously regained, Burton is fulfilling his original vision. 

Check out this featurette for footage from the upcoming film and for behind-the-scenes secrets revealed.

Featuring quirky new characters and a stop-motion animation style reminiscent of The Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie looks like it will be a treat for dog and Tim Burton fans alike.

Do you think you'll check out Frankenweenie when it comes out in theaters October 5? Better yet: If you could bring a deceased animal friend back over the Rainbow Bridge, would you?

Images via the Frankenweenie Facebook page, where you can find all the latest updates.

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Tim in his workshop with his dog, Honky.

"I began restoring antique carousel art pieces for collectors before I began carving," Racer explains of his unusual career trajectory. "I was never a carousel nut; I'd been an illustrator in Chicago before embarking on a new career path here in California. So it was a matter of diet -- in order to eat I had to find work, and a chance at restoring carousel antiques came my way."

"It was a life-changing opportunity," he adds. "The knowledge I gained from that craft gave me the tools I needed to build my own carousel animals."

After several years of restoring other artist's creations, he was inspired to make his own from scratch. "It was actually very fulfilling to take battered pieces, some of which were in boxes and broken into 40 or so pieces, and bring them back to life," he recalls. "It could be a horse, rooster, lion, tiger, ostrich, alligator, rhino, hippo, donkey, giraffe ... when it was done it was so completely satisfying, as these pieces are a part of Americana.

"But they were still not my art. So I started having this itch to carve my own carousel piece, a menagerie piece that had never been done before. Our Sally, an American Pit Bull Terrier, was the perfect subject. She had muscles that were begging to be sculpted, so she became my first subject."

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Perhaps the most eloquent testament to Racer's talent for carving canines comes from critics who can't talk. When Sally's portrait was complete, Racer observed what he proudly calls "the sniff test" in action. "Once a piece is done I set it on the floor for my dogs to happen upon it when they next come in the room," he says. "It's the best compliment when they sniff the butt!" Pretty Sally's reaction to her carved likeness went like this: "The butt sniff, then she walked away like she hadn't been fooled. Pit Bull pride," Racer adds with a laugh.

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Racer knows something about Pit Bull pride: He's the CFO and co-founder of BAD RAP, the famed pro-Pit rescue and rehab group in California. So, does putting Pit Bulls on an artistic pedestal help change negative perceptions about these wonderful but too often maligned dogs? "I would like to think that is true, and believe presenting anything in a positive light consistently can help change negative stereotypes," he says. 

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Tim's dogs help him out in his studio.

Of all the dogs whose likenesses he's carved, the most challenging, Racer remembers, was "definitely a Basenji named Ida Mae from Chicago. I am surrounded by all these fat-head dogs all day and have carved enough of them that it comes much easier. And we've had a couple of Husky-Shepherd mixes for the last 16 years too, so capturing the Malamute mix on my site was not too difficult.

"But that delicate little female Basenji was a lesson in patience. Her features are the antithesis of those seen in a Bulldog: a feminine little fox compared to a blocky-headed beast. Male artists often have a difficult time softening features, just as women artists often have a hard time making male figures more masculine. A favorite instructor in college had that point of view, and I believe it is true." 

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Racer has drawn inspiration from some big names in the art history pantheon, as well as an artist who, like Sally the Pit Bull, is much closer to home: "Rockwell Kent and Tamara de Lempicka for their design sense, Maxfield Parrish for his color sense in glazing transparent tones in multiple layers, and my wife Donna Reynolds [BAD RAP co-founder and executive director] for her sense of simplicity in composition -- she taught me as much as anyone."
 
Clients commission carved canine portraits for themselves as well as for their children; something about carousel art kindles the kid-like imagination in us all. "Mostly the carvings are for the adults, but I have had a couple that wanted them for their children to be able to use, so I just add a couple more layers of varnish," Racer says. "I even did some touch-up on one of them about a year ago and it didn't bother me at all to see some wear on it, knowing that it was being enjoyed as a real rocker."

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Racer is often asked if he ever has exhibitions. "It's quite difficult for me to have an exhibition with very many pieces," he says, "since my work is all done on commission." Depending on its complexity, one piece can take anywhere from 375 to more than 700 hours to complete.

"After working on a piece for hundreds of hours, I put on the final coat of varnish, photograph it, and then quickly ship it to my client, who has usually been waiting for it far too long," he says. "I was able to borrow three local pieces along with my Pit Bull rocker for the grand reopening of LA Dogworks after a tragic fire the year before. It was really fun to see four of my pieces in one place. I put them around the room in a circle for the carousel feel, and they received a warm response, but that's as many as I've been able to gather for any period of time.

"I'll let you know if I'm ever able to do a real opening. The Oakland Museum might be just the right place!"

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In the meantime, a carousel entirely populated by Racer's carved dogs is definitely a dream goal. "It could one day be a reality," the artist allows. "It would have to be a small carousel, with maybe eight to 12 pieces on it. I have the patterns for all of the dogs that I've carved, so it would not be like starting from scratch if I found [an entity] with the funds to commission such a project."

Until then, he's considering branching out into dog busts, which he says would take less time and be more affordable. 

To learn more about Tim Racer's art, visit his Web site.

I was expecting Just One More Day to be the story of Geoffrey Bain’s final weeks with Abby, his beloved Australian Shepherd. While it does relate Abby’s story very tenderly, the book is really about Geoffrey’s odyssey to deal with his heartache and pain and longing. It’s about a journey to find peace.

The last part of the book’s full title should have tipped me off, that it's a "guide" to saying goodbye. Abby’s story is certainly an important part of the book, but her story is arguably not the most significant part. We meet Abby in the book’s introduction, and almost as soon as we get to know her sweet spirit, she is gone, not to appear again other than in casual references until Chapter 7, where we find her Dogster Diary. In between, Geoffrey offers a compendium of information related to, preparing for, and dealing with the death of a pet.

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The topics encompass valuable information such as quality of life, euthanasia, grieving, and the final farewell. Rather than expecting Abby’s story to provide blanket observations, Geoffrey has solicited dozens of pet owners to share their stories. He also includes the perspective of veterinarians and other experts.

Along the way, Geoffrey shares some compelling, even alarming data: 60 percent of all dogs over age 6 will develop some form of cancer. With more dogs getting seriously ill, it stands to reason that more families are finding themselves facing hard decisions.

I was surprised to learn that a survey by a large pet insurance company showed that accidents accounted for about 5 percent of dogs' deaths; natural death took another 8 percent, and illness was the cause of death in an additional 35 percent. What surprised me was that for 52 percent of dogs, euthanasia was the cause of death.

I was surprised, too, but once I thought about it, I realized I shouldn’t have been.

This is a very good book, filled with excellent information. That said, it doesn’t strike me as casual reading. It’s not a coffeetable book for your guests to thumb through prior to a dinner party. Just One More Day is part reference, part therapy.

Depending on your circumstances, Geoffrey Bain’s book can prepare you to make the difficult decision none of us wants to be faced with, or counsel you in regard to a decision you are still wrestling with from your past. Some may find the book useful to read from cover to cover, while others might only need a single chapter, such as the one on grieving.

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Mastiff by Shutterstock.com.

Just One More Day was not what I was expecting. I found myself reading the book out of sequence, jumping from place to place. This is not a fault of the book, but a strength. You will find yourself shedding tears on one page and smiling on another. Most of all, you will find the reassurance which comes from knowing you are not alone.

The dogs of my youth, Pal and Curly Jean, both lived long and happy lives, but I did not have to deal directly with their passing. Pal spent his last years at a bird sanctuary with one of my dad’s friends, and I had long since left home when Curly Jean passed away. Sterling is who I thought of while reading Just One More Day, because I had to deal directly with his quality of life in his final years and then his passing. Reading Just One More Day has been helpful with those memories. In a few years -- hopefully more than a few -- I suspect I will need Geoffrey’s book again for Jackie the guinea pig.

Alistair Begg put it well when he said, “There is a last time for every journey. And so it is good to make much of our partings. And it is good to make much of our hellos.” Begg was actually referencing people as he lamented our culture’s tendency to take the comings and goings of family too lightly. Dogs don't have this problem. They don’t like seeing us go when we leave them behind. And when we return, is there anything quite like the joy our dogs greet us with when we walk through the door?

A dog’s unbridled joy and unconditional love makes final partings that much harder on us. Geoffrey Bain’s book can help you cope with the dread of impending loss and the grief we carry for the pets which are no longer with us, yet carried forever in our hearts.

I leave you with the title. Is there not one of us who has not felt the pain and anguish of desperately wanting Just One More Day?