Well, it didn't take long. And came as no surprise.

Just weeks after moving into the Democratic White House, Bo Obama used the occasion of his official photograph release today to call for universal pet health insurance.

Looking just darling and tilting his head as generations of successful public dogs have endearingly done to capture human hearts, the Portuguese water dog said that a society that could send chimpanzees into space certainly could afford to pay for such essential insurance for their beloved home companions.

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It is easier for you to choose a new vet, dog friendly hotel, etc. if you can read the experiences of others. It is easier for others if they can read your experiences. Right now, you can rate your vet, groomer, etc. Soon you'll be able to add a paragraph or two.

Please let us know your thoughts, opinions and desires. WoofSpace is for you.

If you're looking for a shelter to support, consider these:
North Shore Animal League - http://www.nsalamerica.org/ (where we got Midnight and Samantha)
Westchester Humane Society in Elmsford, NY - http://www.elmsfordanimalshelter.com/ (where we got Capt. Bear Paw the BDE)
The Austin, Tx SPCA - http://www.austinspca.com/
If you're near Raleigh - Durham - Greensboro, support the Triad SPCA - http://www.triadspca.org/
Some of our friends in Maine support the Maine SPCA - http://www.animalshelter.org/shelters/Maine_State_SPCA_rId2058_rS_pC.htm...
In New Jersey, you can give to NJSPCA - http://njspca.org/

Got a big dog? You'll want to read this, from Purina:

Planning for a Lifetime of Mobility

Normal wear and tear on joints occurs daily throughout your dog's lifetime. Cartilage protects your dog's bones and joints from the friction caused by everyday movement.

Natural glucosamine, a building block of cartilage tissue, can help maintain cartilage for healthy joints and mobility. That's why Purina has created adult dog formulas that contain guaranteed levels of natural glucosamine, so you can help your dog stay active and healthy for a long time to come.

CARTILAGE

What is cartilage?

http://www.dogmagazine.net Get a free dog magazine
http://www.nsalamerica.org/ North Shore Animal League America is the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption center.

I just finished J. F. Englert's 'A Dog Among Diplomats', and I'm not sure what to say. He obviously put a lot of work into it... well, some work. I want to be nice, but my momma always told me to tell the truth. The first book 'A Dog About Town' was pretty good. This one is a prime example of 'second book syndrome.' OK, he spent years getting the first book out, and it was good, and it did well, and the publisher pressured him to get the next one out while his brief candle of fame still flickered. I get it. He should have had a bit more sense, and taken as much time as the book really needed. Like it's protagonist and alleged author, it is bloated, wordy and distracted. The plot mechanics audibly creak.

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Everyone wants their dog to live as long as possible. It turns out that, like humans, mice and cats, feeding a dog a healthy diet, without over feeding or under feeding, yields the healthiest and longest lived dog.**

Purina ran the study for 14 years, and used 48 Labrador Retrievers. Half were fed enough food to keep them lean, the other half were over fed. The lean group lived an average of 1.8 years longer, and although they developed the same illnesses as the other group, they developed them two years later, and the illnesses were generally less severe.

The study was ground breaking in several ways: it was the first to use dogs rather than rats, it was the first to follow them for their full life cycle, and all dogs received the same 100% balanced and nutritional diet.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
This article by James M. Giffen, MD and Liisa D. Carlson DVM was excerpted from “The Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook” by NZYMES®

Hip dysplasia is the most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs. The highest incidence occurs in large-breed dogs, including Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs and many others. Smaller breeds are also affected, but are less likely to show symptoms. According to statistics compiled by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the risk of hip dysplasia in many of the large-breed dogs presented to them for certification over the last 25 years ranged from 20 to 40 percent.

As you enjoy your pet's companionship, a little extra effort on your part will teach him to be a good neighbor. Ideally this should begin when your pet is young.

However, at any age, a dog can be trained to obey at least the basic commands. The best way to teach your dog obedience is to attend a dog obedience school. Kennel clubs, humane organizations and extension divisions of some universities offer obedience courses. There are also many good books on obedience training.

Many communities have "pooper scooper" laws requiring owners to clean up after their dogs. Law or no law, cleaning up after your dog reflects your consideration for others.