A Day in a Dog's Life

I should never have taught my dog how to read. Once she saw the following, she has been driving me crazy!


Hotel Chain Offers Massages for Dogs

SARASOTA, Fla. - Austin ricochets around the Ritz-Carlton hotel room, bouncing from bed to chair and leaping high to lick the face of his personal masseuse. He's an energetic 4-year-old pug, so there is a lot of wriggling as his "privileged pup" pet massage begins. But soon his eyelids droop and his tiny muscles relax under the soothing touch of Darlene Davison, the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota's spa director.


"OK, sweetheart, OK. There you go," coos Davison, creator of the luxury hotel chain's latest indulgence - the $130 dog massage.

Figure in the hotel's 20-pound weight limit and the additional $125 nonrefundable pet fee and the "privileged pup" plan comes out to a minimum of $12.75 a pound. And that's the basic package.

For another $220, the Ritz throws in gourmet dog biscuits, an in-room pet massage, a choice of nail buffing or nail polish, a souvenir photo, a brisk walk over Sarasota's scenic Ringling Bridge and a gourmet meal of organic stew and designer water served on a silver tray.

My dog Zoe' noticed the 20-pound weight limit, but said if anyone questioned this lady's weight, she would bite them!!!

If your dog is looking over your shoulder and reading this article, you are in as much trouble as I am.







Speaking of dogs:

Dog Alerts Family to House Fire

GRESHAM, Wis. - A Rottweiler awoke a mother in time to grab her two young sons and escape from their burning house in eastern Wisconsin.

The 150-pound dog, named Zeus, awoke Jennifer Brusoe at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday at their rented house.

Brusoe grabbed her two sons, ages 5 and 6, and escaped. One of the children was injured from a piece of falling ceiling, but his injuries were not life threatening.

"She said the whole ceiling was in flames," "She grabbed the children as the ceiling collapsed in the bedrooms."

The Rottweiler and a family cat escaped and were picked up by a neighbor.


Dogs are much smarter than a lot of people I know.

This dog is a hero and should be treated to a massage, don't ya think?








This town is certainly not going to the dogs:

Utah town’s dog license limit can be really ruff

Officials want to curb contamination, protect Salt Lake's drinking water

ALTA, Utah - Every January when dog licenses come up for renewal, dog lovers at this ski town go wild with anticipation, panting for a shot at the finite number up for grabs.

They start counting the dogs rumored to have died or moved away with their owners. And if the license lottery leaves them empty-handed, they can always try pestering the mayor, who can issue his own licenses for good cause or compassion.

"It's the worst issue I deal with," said Mayor Tom Pollard. "The day after I was elected I got my first call — I hadn't even gotten to the job. They disguised it as a question about garbage service, then finished with, 'Can I have a dog?'"

To protect the alpine watershed, an ordinance limits the number of dogs to 12 percent of the human population, with few exceptions. No four-legged visitors are allowed, even inside cars, and violators can go to jail.

For now, the town council keeps the lid at 42 licenses, even though it could add two more dogs under the formula tied to Alta's population of 370 old-timers, ski bums, business owners and resort employees.

"I never heard of a place limiting dog licenses," said Stephan Otto, a lawyer and legislative director for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which tracks dog ordinances. "It sounds a little European."

Alta occupies 4 square miles inside a national forest where a special act of Congress left Salt Lake City in charge of the water supply. The city and county police the canyons, keeping out nonresident or unlicensed dogs to curb bacterial contamination of streams and protect Salt Lake's drinking water.

Deputy town marshal Tom Bolen said he's heard practically every excuse from visitors caught smuggling dogs. They claimed not to have seen the warning signs or thought they referred only to a leash law or believed the ban was only for vicious dogs.

Three months into his job, Bolen said he issued dozens of warnings to illegal dog walkers and two citations. Violations are typically settled for $65, but repeat offenders can risk 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Maureen Hill-Hauck, executive director of the American Dog Owners Association, called Alta's ordinance "totally ridiculous."

"No other town limits dogs," she said. "It sounds like a total and complete violation of a person's civil rights. How dare they?"

Alta has its own doubters, who point out that wild animals routinely leave droppings. But town officials say manufactured dog food makes for more potent poop.


Where is the ACLU when you need them? Oh, a dog's rights are not that important to the ACLU I guess!!!!






And last the evils of alcohol:

Man Sells Stepdaughter's Dog for Beer

BERLIN - A thirsty German sold his 6-year-old stepdaughter's pet beagle to the owner of a bar to pay for beer.

The unemployed man offered to take the dog for a walk and then stopped at a bar where he convinced the owner to buy the 3-year-old dog for 40 euros, or $53.

The man spent the proceeds quenching his thirst for beer. The bar owner has now returned the dog to its owner.

They should lock this guy up in the pound!! Taking advantage of a 6-year-old no less.

How much does beer cost in Germany? $53 bucks on beer?




And there you have it for Monday. This blog has gone to the dogs!!