Have you read about the debacle between Ellen and her adopted dog? From what I understand, her new dog didn’t get along with her cats, so she gave the pet to her hairdresser. The adoptive agency, claiming she’d violated their terms, removed the dog from its new family. Mainly I feel sorry for the poor pooch who’s getting the raw end of the deal.

Our poodle approaches her fifteen birthday in a few weeks. We are fortunate she’s been so healthy (kinehorah, a Jewish expression to ward off the evil eye). I attribute this to several factors. One, we bought her from Wendy’s Poodle Parlor and she came with papers testifying to her purebred pedigree. Mixed breeds may have more problems. Two, we rarely give her human food, just the occasional piece of meat or chicken. Three, she eats Science Diet Light Canine Maintenance. When she had eye problems at an earlier age, I took her to a doggie eye specialist.  Several hundred dollars and some lab tests later, we learned she had a fat intolerance and those were deposits of cholesterol crystals in her eyes (don’t worry, they didn’t affect her vision). So by following a low-fat diet, she’s in no danger of growing overweight. Finally, I take her (or she takes me, depending on your viewpoint) on a brisk twenty minute walk each morning. This regular exercise can only help her heart. Sure, she snores more than she used to when younger, and she can’t hear so well, and she is unable to jump up on the kitchen chair anymore, but she’s still relatively spry for her old age. Hopefully she’ll be with us for a few more years. She’s so soft and cuddly, just like a real live teddy bear. Check out her photos on my website. Scroll down and click on Photo Album. And give your pet a hug today.