Kindness From A Total Stranger.

Chance says, "Thanks for helping!"

The other day, while at work, I had a customer come in that comes in frequently. She has 5 dogs and loves them all. As I got her treats, we began talking, as we always do. She was telling me about a dog she saw running toward Rt. 60 from Roby Road. She also saw that it has a tag on its collar.

She stopped the car and got out and called to the dog, a chocolate lab. Fortunately, the dog came to her. She got ahold of the dog's collar, a female, and when the dog settled down, from wiggling all over, she said, she read the tag. She got her cell out and called the number. The man that answered was so relieved. He said his wife had been frantically looking for her all morning.

This kind lady asked the man if the dog would get in the car with her. He told her probably, as she was a big baby. Well, she did, thank heavens. My customer said that the dog was a little nervous, as she didn't know her, or the car. She, (the customer), told her, "it's ok baby girl, mom will be here soon." It took the lady about 10 min. to get to her.

My customer said the lady almost cried as she thanked her over and over. The reason I am writing this is because it touched my heart so much that there are still people out there that will go out of their way to help an animal. Thank you, Candice. Your kindness will not go unnoticed.

Kudos To The People Of Hurricane For Their New Dog Park!

source: second paragraph from the Herald Dispatch

Well, we finally have a dog park that is closer to my area. There is one in Ashland KY, but it was just too far to travel with gas at the price it is. The people of Hurricane WV got together and have developed 2 dog parks.

Valley Park will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1, to celebrate the opening of the county's first dog park. This is the first of two dog parks being constructed in the area. A second is being built at the county park in Eleanor and is scheduled to open on Oct. 4. A donation from a local couple and one from Hurricane Animal Hospital helped make these parks a reality.

I have tried for years to get the good people of Huntington to make a dog park a reality, but it seems that the people that matter, are just not interested. I approached some of the park board members, but if it isn't tennis related, they just don't want to discuss it. Such narrow-mindedness is what is causing the death of Huntington.

Maybe if the dog people got together and started to raise the awareness of the need for a dog park, someone would listen.

Puppy Mill Bust In WV.

Finally, the puppy mill in Parkersburg WV has been shut down. I have know of this place for many years, but no one would ever listen to me. The mill, known as Whispering Oaks Kennels, raised Dachshunds. This place has been in business for over 40 yrs.


The owner, a Mrs. Roberts, claimed to be one of the premier breeders of this breed. What a load of crap. Many other Dachshund breeders, reputable ones, have tried to get her shut down for years, but, like me, no one would listen. She flew under the radar, so to speak, for years, until now! If you are in the Parkersburg area, or close, and can help foster some of these precious puppies, please help. You can read the story on Fox, and see the raw video on the Herald Dispatch website to find out how you can get in contact with the proper authorities to help.


Thank you Herald Dispatch, for showing this.

Chance And His Favorite Treat - Sherbet Push-Up.

Now You Can Find Out Your Mix-Breeds DNA.

Miss Kallee - A mix breed foundling, and my soul-mate. One of the best therapy dogs I have ever had and worked with.

When I found Kallee, some 17 yrs. ago, I made a guess as to what she was mixed with. I guessed a Smooth Collie and Australian Shepherd due to the color of her coat and the shape of her head. If you own a mix-breed dog and are wondering what your best friend has in him/her, you can now find out.

Breeders have been screening dogs for genes responsible for several physical traits and diseases for over a decade, but in 2004, this technology took a huge leap forward. While some geneticists in Seattle WA., whom were attempting to study the bases of human diseases like heart disease and cancer, compared the DNA of 85 domestic dog breeds and found a surprisingly high distinction between the breeds. So, they concluded that a mix-breed's unique mix could be determined by doing a DNA test. These tests were made available to consumers (pet owners) last year.

This test is totally painless and very quick to do. You just swab the inside of your dogs cheek. You can get the test by mail, and the results, too. Another way is the Wisdom Panel MX Mix Breed Analysis test. This is done by drawing blood by a participating vet , who delivers the results to the owner during a follow-up visit. Each breed has a unique DNA signature.

There are several different tests. Here they are:

Canine Heritage XL Breed Test. The manufacturer is Metamorhix Inc. It detects 108 breeds and costs $119.95 - http://www.dog-dna.com/. (the company is offering an upgrade to the people that purchased the original version, which only detected 38 breeds.)

DNA Breed Identification. The manufacturer is BioPet Vet Lab. It detects 61 breeds and costs $59.95 - http://www.biopetvetlab.com/.

Widsom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis. The manufacturer is Mars Veterinary. It detects 134 breeds and costs $135.oo to $170.00 - http://www.wisdompanel.com/.

A Devotion and Loyalty That Is Unparalleled.

source: CNN website

The loyalty of a dog to his/her owner is unparalleled. I was reading a story on the CNN website today that really hit home with me. In an area about 75 mi. NE of Denver, a rancher found the body of a young man, 25 yrs. old, that had apparently committed suicide. Beside him, was his dog, Cash, a German Shepherd. She was thin and dehydrated, but alive.

The man, Jake Baysinger, went missing on June 28Th. This dog had been guarding his body for over 7 wks. She apparently survived by eating mice and rabbits. She also would have had to defend his body against predators, such as coyotes, and possibly wolves. This is just incredible to me. The love and loyalty this dog felt for her human pack member is, as I said in the beginning, unparalleled. Isn't it a shame that man can't have the same loyalty and love for each other?

Yesterday, Monday the 11Th of Aug., Cash was reunited with Mrs. Baysinger and their 2 yr. old son, Lane. The article said that the little boy loved the dog a lot and was happy to see her again. Of course at 2 yrs. old, he can't understand what has happened. But, when he is older, he will be able to understand and grasp the meaning of what Cash did. She put her life on the line to stay with his dad and protect his body. What devotion!

A New Video Starring Major B Chance.

Chance playing Mr. Chuck-it with mom.

Louisiana Bans Cock-Fighting For Good.

source: 1st line in the 2nd paragraph taken from article in Herald Dispatch.

Finally, Louisiana has banned cock-fighting. Although it will not be gone totally, it is punishable with fines and possible prison time. The article in this paper, the Herald Dispatch, used the words "gory and bucolic" to describe this blood-sport. The gory I understand, but bucolic means of country life. True, it is said that the Cajun people are country, but I think "bucolic" is not the correct term to use to describe this horrid "sport."


For those willing to travel, cockfighting remains legal on American soil in Puerto Rico, American Samoa and Guam and is popular in Mexico, the Philippines and other foreign countries. The hard core cock-fighters will go to any length to continue, though. So, traveling to these places would be feasible to them.


Thank you to the Gov. of Louisiana for finally making cock-fighting illegal, and thanks to the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights organizations for pushing so hard to stop this.

Help Change The Abuse Laws In Your State!

Well, it seems that the cruelty will never end. The man in Proctorville that had the Golden Retriever tied to a tree with a chain plead no contest to animal cruelty and neglect. The chain had bit into the dogs neck so severely that it had to be surgically removed because the skin had grown over the chain.

This crime is only a misdemeanor. The laws have to be changed to make this type of cruelty a felony. The judge is holding off sentencing to see what the vet bill will be so the abuser will have to pay restitution. The poor dog is at least safe and recuperating at Animal Friends Vet Clinic in Teays Valley, WV.

Please contact your state Representatives and let them know that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in your state and that abusers should be charged with felony animal cruelty and felony animal neglect.

Breeding For The Love Of The Breed.

In my new job, I talk with many, many dog people. I have only met 2 people, in the 3 weeks that Just Dogs! Gourmet has been open, that were not true dog people. Today, I got to talking to a family that raises rough coated Collies. I was skeptical at first, since that is my nature. I figured they were just backyard breeders that did it for the money.

As we talked more, I found out I was wrong in my assumption. The lady truly loved her dogs. She has 5 Collies that she is totally devoted to. They have been breeding for 2 yrs. and have only had 2 litters with one of their females, whom is now 8. They are getting her spayed soon. The husband began talking with me and said that they don't need the money, they just love the breed. They don't sell to pet stores or on the Internet or through the paper. They do word of mouth.

I thought that was fabulous. I told them how I felt about people that just breed to make money and don't care about the dogs or where the puppies went. They agreed whole-heartily. It was really refreshing to talk with people that breed for the love of the breed. They live in Hurricane, WV.

This Is Just A Story About A Boy And His Dog.

Chance and Mr. Lizard love a good story.

Today, while at work at Just Dog's Gourmet in the Huntington Mall, I met a young man, probably in middle school, or a freshman in H.S., shopping with his mom. As we got to talking, which is something I love to do, his mom told me a great story.

Their dog, of 16 yrs., a rescue, had passed away, and then a month later, her dad, his granddad, passed away. This young man was very close to both, she (the mom) said. The mom wanted to wait to get another dog, while she got things settled, I imagine with her father's estate, as she did not elaborate on this, and I didn't ask. But, her husband said that the boy needed a dog.

So, she began to research and decided to buy a West Highland Terrier (Westie). So, the night before they were to leave for Columbus, I believe, she told him what she was going to do. He said to her, "mom, if you want to get that dog, that is O.K., but there is a dog here that needs me." Her husband had heard what he said, and called Sue Brown, of Little Victories. When Sue heard the story, she exclaimed that she had a dog for his son.

They went to one of the vet clinics where this little dog was being fostered, a Jack Russell, Chihuahua mix, and the bond was made. His name was Tag, but the young man named him "Jack." Jack was about 4 lbs. He is now a vibrant, playful companion for this boy. When I watched this boy talk about his dog, I got tears in my eyes. When his mom told me the story, I got chill bumps all over.

He carefully picked out some of our treats for Jack, and would ask his mom if it was O.K. if he got this one or that one. She told him to get as much as he wanted, which I thought was so cool. It is so great to hear stories like this one, it does my heart good.