Spoiled Dog Getaways, Whining for Wine, Pudgiest Pups, and More!
Inn by the Sea features a resident rescue dog to greet guests, and the inn’s program has placed nearly 200 pups with guests over the years. photo: courtesy Inn by the Sea
Who’s a Spoiled Boy?
Dog Vacations for the One Percent
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the folks at Forbes have released their top 10 list of dog-friendly luxury hotels and resorts. And, as luck would have it, one’s right here in California wine country – the Solage, which Forbes notes is “especially attractive for dogs, who receive beds, bowls, biscuits, and other treats” along with access to plentiful outdoor spaces and trails.
What’s the price of a luxe getaway for you and your best buddy? As the saying goes, if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it.
Source: forbes.com
We Whine for Wine:
Dog Detectives On the Case
Michael Honig with a canine colleague. photo: Honig Vineyard and Winery
Wineries in Chile and Argentina have started using Labrador Retrievers to detect pests and contaminants that can ruin wine by tainting corks, barrels, or packaging. Unlike clunky human-made devices, these talented canine sniffers can pinpoint exactly which barrel, pallet, or hose poses a threat to its luscious contents.
Dogs at Chile’s TN Coopers can help detect TCA in the wood used for barrels. photo: Exequiel Lavandero
Closer to home, Napa got a head start on the dog action back in 2005 when four Golden Retrievers – Ros, Rigo, Richardson, and Rousek – sniffed out the dreaded female mealybug at a local vineyard as part of a canine pilot project. While mealybugs haven’t threatened the grapes since, participants said they’d definitely be open to using the dogs again should the need arise.
And detection dogs can protect wine drinkers, too. At Florida’s 2021 South Beach Wine & Food Festival, specially trained pups were stationed at entrances to sniff attendees for Covid-19, making sure everyone was safe to quaff. Now doesn’t that deserve a toast?
Source: winemag.com
Who’s Got the Pudgiest Pups?
Let’s Hear It for Pennsylvania!
Pennsylvania pups come in first in this category. photo: Getty Images
A study recently released by OneVet found Pennsylvania has the most overweight dogs, followed in order by Virginia, Wisconsin, Georgia, and West Virginia. But while Pennsylvania claimed the top spot overall, the Badger State took home some bragging rights, too, with the most overweight male dogs hailing from Wisconsin.
Just how plump are those Pennsylvania pooches? Suffice to say they tipped the scales at a staggering average of 18 pounds over their ideal weight. By comparison, California canines averaged just 9.2 extra pounds. Of course, Pennsylvania pups almost never have to appear in bikinis, but it’s not like the Keystone State is alone in overfeeding its dogs. The national average hovers around 11+ excess pounds per pup.
Want to see how your home state’s dogs stack up on the pudge-o-meter? See the complete list here.
Source: iheart.com
The Late Great Betty White: “I Stayed in Show Business to Support My Animal Business”
Muralist Corie Mattie’s “Be More Like Betty” mural benefitting Wagmor Pets. photo: courtesy Wagmor Pets
Shelters across the country are feeling the love from the #BettyWhiteChallenge, a social media push to support local shelters and rescue orgs as a tribute to the beloved actor who died a few weeks short of her 100th birthday, which would have been January 17.
Some fans even went the extra mile, notably Los Angeles muralist Corie Mattie who created a “Be More Like Betty” mural, including a QR code to donate directly to local dog rescue Wagmor Pets. The painter figured it would be the perfect way to honor White, who famously supported animal rescue groups throughout her life.
Did you miss Betty’s birthday? Don’t fret. It’s never too late to make a donation to your favorite shelter or rescue group. We’re sure Ms. White would understand.
Source: losangeles.cbslocal.com
Who Gets Fluffy?
Divorce, Doggie Style
Who gets Fluffy in the break up? photo: Getty Images
February may be the month of love, but as we humans know all too well, sometimes things just don’t work out. Luckily, New York has become the most recent state to adopt a law requiring courts to consider the best interest of a pet when awarding custody in a divorce.
Alaska was the first state to put a pet custody law on the books back in 2017, and California later followed suit with Family Code 2605, enacted on January 1, 2019, – just in time for all those pandemic breakups.
Absent such laws, pets are often treated like cars, TVs, artwork, or other inanimate objects in a divorce settlement. But as New York lawmakers correctly noted, “For many families, pets are the equivalent of children and must be granted more consideration to ensure that they will be properly cared for after a divorce.” Hear, hear to that.
Source: spectrumlocalnews.com
Lassie, For Real:
Hero Shepherd Leads Rescuers to Crash Site
Tinsley is a hero! image: WPTZ Boston
A Shiloh Shepherd named Tinsley recently saved her owner’s life by leading rescuers to the site of a truck crash near the snowy Vermont/New Hampshire border. Officers initially responded to reports of a loose dog on Interstate 89 in Lebanon, NH, but when they tried to approach her, Tinsley ran north on the highway into Vermont. Following her lead, police soon spotted a broken guardrail and a badly crumpled pickup that had rolled over into a wooded area off the road, ejecting its occupants, both of whom were seriously injured and suffering from hypothermia.
Tinsley herself was unhurt, but without her actions, it’s doubtful her human and his friend would have survived the night. Unfortunately, alcohol was a factor in the crash – just another reminder not to drink and drive even if you do have a real-life Lassie in your car.
Source: npr.org