Thanks for all the laughs, Jim

Jim Henson of the Muppets fame was born on this day in 1936. He died May 16, 1990, at the age of 53.

I never get tired of this video. Makes me laugh every time.

Should dogs have access to street festivals?

The recent shooting of a dog at a District of Columbia neighborhood street fair has people rethinking whether pooches are welcome guests at outdoor events.


Read the story by Washington Post staff writer Steve Hendrix.

When a police officer shot a dog he judged to be a threat at a street fair in Adams Morgan last week, the incident reopened a long-standing divide between dog owners who see no problem in taking their pets just about anywhere in public and those who plead, "Leave the pooch at home."

At the H Street Festival in the District last weekend, Mauro Farinelli serenely walked his dog into a crowd—and a controversy. Farinelli and his pit bull mix, Doug, strolled through a multitude of legs, food carts and dozens of other dogs. Doug never so much as growled, Farinelli said.

"Just a lot of sniffing—that's the basset in him," Farinelli, 39, said. He is quick to make clear that Doug is an obedience school graduate that has never been any trouble on their frequent outings to festivals, parks and shopping zones. "He's really good in crowds. He's really good with kids. Unless they actually forbid dogs, I don't see any reason not to take him wherever I'm going." 

The article points out, correctly, that many of the festival venues have elements that could put people and the dogs at risk: low hanging edibles and strollers with toddlers come to mind.

And let's face it, sometimes people Just. Don't. Pay. Attention. That's when the dog—and then its owner—can get into trouble.

I think it would be a shame if there were an outright ban on dogs at public events, but I also think it should be taken on a case by case basis. Wide open spaces? OK for dogs. Tight, overly crowded? Maybe not so much.

What do you think?

Colorado fire victims include pets

People who were forced to evacuate their homes because of the 740-acre wildfire west of Loveland, Colo., dropped their animals off at the Larimer Humane Society shelter.

Read the entire story by Kevin Duggan for the Loveland Connection, part of the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

There are six cats and one dog now staying temporarily at the shelter.

The pet owners stayed with friends or at motels while awaiting permission to return home. Although the evacuation order was lifted Wednesday, only two cats and a dog in protective custody at the shelter were immediately picked up.

Shelter manager Jenny Gaukel said having the extra animals was not a burden on staff members, although some of the pets had special dietary needs. Volunteers gave the animals attention as they waited to be reunited with their families.

Gaukel said the owners have enough to worry about without having to be concerned for the care and feeding of their pets.

It's another opportunity to remind everyone that you should not only have a disaster plan for you and your family, but also for your pets.

Here's a recent blog entry on preparing for hurricane season.

White Knuckles video with dogs

OK Go's video featuring lots of talented pooches.

Thanks, Pete Sagal, for giving me a heads up.

Go to full screen mode to get rid of the annoying chatter on the right side. Can't figure out why this is happening. Oh bother.

Acme, you have no worries

Wile E. Coyote has nothing on the critter spooking dogs in Palo Alto, Calif.

Here's an article by Jesse Dungan of the Palo Alto Daily News via the San Jose Mercury News.

In response to a series of encounters between an aggressive coyote and dogs, Palo Alto is temporarily prohibiting dogs from visiting some trails on the western side of Pearson-Arastradero Preserve.

"The coyote would approach people with dogs, bark and howl," said Lester Hodgins, open space division supervising ranger. In one case, a coyote "nipped at" a dog, he said, adding that there have been no full-blown attacks.

There apparently have been no attacks by coyotes of hikers sans pooches.

People who know say the coyote encounters are likely to involve the same coyote. How they know, who knows.

Hodgins said it has been four or five years since reports of aggressive coyotes prompted the city to close trails to dogs. The open space division is waiting to hear from a state Department of Fish and Game biologist before reopening the trails.

Careful, people, careful.

A Monday 'toon

I love Simon's Cat 'toons.

This is really why I don't have a cat. This and Get Fuzzy.

More dogs should be in public service

Hewitt makes the rounds every day in the government offices of Snohomish County which is where Everett, Wash.,  is located.

He's not a government employee, but people call him the sixth member of the County Council.

In reality, there are five elected council members. Hewitt is a terrier mix about the size of a small poodle. He's been a fixture at the office for about a year and a half, after being handed through a car window one day as County Councilman Dave Somers sat in traffic.

Read the entire story by Noah Haglund from the Everett Daily Herald here. There is a picture of Hewitt—cute.

While in traffic about two years ago, a car pulled up next to Somers with two men in it. One of them asked if Somers wanted to buy a dog.


He declined but later when they pulled up next to him again and asked if he would take the dog. Concerned about the dog's safety, Somers agreed.

The councilman had Hewitt a few months before bringing him by the office. He hadn't done this with other dogs, but this one liked people so much. In turn, people at work took a shine to the friendly critter—and to the story behind his name.

"He lightens the mood," said Eric Parks, Somers' legislative aide.