All posts by The Dog Lady

Dishes fit for a King…er…First Dog

A comment posted from Thomas told me about this, but I thought it was too good to be left as just a comment – wanted to make everyone saw this.  Here’s the complete press release.  Thanks to Thomas for alerting me to it!

Barack Obama is bringing from Europe unique presents – Luxury accessories for the America’s First Dog

Prague, April 7th, 2009

WOW! All America can see now what will the future presidential dog eat from and where he or she will live. Barack Obama, the president of the USA, is bringing from just finished visit of Europe interesting gifts.

Political leaders of European Union prepared for the First American Couple original and witty gifts indeed. On Sunday, Barack and Michelle Obama received in Prague luxury dog bowls and dog bed for their sweet pet that they should be getting on Easter. Special edition of products prepared exclusively for America’s First Dog includes logo that was specially designed for the dog that we all cannot wait to see! The First American Couple seemed evidently excited by receiving these gifts. We can expect that the future american dogstar will really use these gifts.

You will not be able to find so high-quality dog products anywhere in the world but in the Czech Republic, where they are manufactured by company Lillibed. Indeed, the official counciler’s gifts for American presidential couple bear the stamp of best quality. Made from world-renowned Carlsbad porcelain, the bowl for American first dog is gilt and coated by Swarovski crystals. The future first American pet will even receive two dog bowls, because every dog needs two bowls– one for food and one for water.

American presidential couple is bringing home also a dog bed to provide a place to sleep for presidential family’s pet. The bed is made from luxury all-natural materials and just as the dogs bowls bears the American First Dog’s logo. Manufacturers even kept in mind the allergy of Obama’s daughter Malia. Therefore, only special hypoallergenic materials were selected to enable Malia to take care of the family dog without troubles.

If you want to see them, here is the official website:  www.firstdogbowl.com

Don’t know how firm the Easter date is, but I thought the deluxe acoutrements were hysterical.  (My dogs eat from stainless steel bowls we bought at Wally World and they sleep on the floor when they’re not on my bed!)  I mean, honestly, Swarovski for a dog????

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

Levi: FBI dog

Do you remember the PAX series, Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye that aired from 2002 – 07?  One of the major stars of the show was Levi, the golden retriever who served as an assistance dog to Ms. Thomas.  The series was based on the true story of Sue Thomas, who served first as a fingerprint specialist for the FBI, then was promoted to a surveillance team with the help of her assistance dog.

Because of the involvement of Levi, Animal Planet has picked up the syndication option on the show and is broadcasting repeats on Monday nights at 9 pm.  If things go well, they may even have more episodes produced.

If you didn’t see the show the first time around, it’s worth checking out.  Not terribly dramatic or suspenseful, but a good way to see how differently-abled people interact with their assistance dogs, and not a bad story about the type of cases the FBI pursues.

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

Update on my Maggie Dog’s Surgery

We just heard from the vet that he removed half of Maggie’s thyroid, as well as a good-sized tumor.  He says they are almost always cancerous, but we will have to wait for the pathology report (5 – 7 days).  I did a little research, and it doesn’t look all that great.  I’ll follow-up with you after we hear back from the lab.  Going to pick her up now.

Lava, Dog Rescued From Baghdad

I just finished listening to the audiobook “From Baghdad, With Love”, the story of Lava, a dog rescued by Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman of the U.S. Marines.  In spite of rules which forbid bringing home dogs from a war zone, Col. Kopelman found a way to get this puppy home with the help of reporters, the Helen Woodward Animal Center, some Iraqi nationals, and the Iams pet food company. 

This is truly a good story – not only because it has a good outcome for the dog, but also because it shows how awful the war in Iraq truly is.  Kopelman pulls no punches when telling how the money is mis-spent, how the war strategy is flawed, and how the Iraqi citizens suffer under the invasion.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon, if you’re interested.  I highly recommend it!  (BTW, in looking at Amazon, I see there is a 2nd book by Kopelman, called “From Baghdad to America:  Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava”.  I’ll have to put that one on my list, too!)

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

Prayers for my dog Maggie

I have a favor to ask of you.  I found a lump under my 8-year old Golden Retriever’s chin last weekend.  The vet took a biopsy yesterday and said it looks suspicious, so she is having surgery tomorrow (4/9/09) to have it removed.  I am so worried she has lymphoma.  We’ve already lost one dog to that, and I’m not sure I can bear to lose another.

Please keep her in your thoughts.

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!