Koro hanging out with my great-aunt Anna in Montenerodomo, Italy, in 1982, during a short trip there while we lived in France.

There is good news on the horizon for people who must travel or love to travel long distances with their dogs but are justifiably fearful of making them ride in the cargo hold, which up until now has been the only option for all but the tiniest of dogs. A new company, DogTravel Company, LLC, has sprung up to offer this service, beginning in 2008, allowing passengers to purchase tickets for their dogs so that they can sit in the cabin with their guardians.

However, if your dog is a “problem child,” don’t expect him or her to be allowed on the plane. Only well-behaved, temperament-tested dogs who get along well with everyone can go, and they must be able to “hold it” for at least six hours. There are also strict guidelines on grooming, flea and tick treatments, vaccinations, microchips, ID tags, and health certificates. Still, in spite of all the regulations, I’m sure there are many dogs out there who would qualify and greatly benefit from this program. (One nice side note: No shock collars are allowed on these flights.)

Most people seem to be unaware of the hazards of flying dogs in cargo holds, but it really is a treacherous practice. Many dogs and other animals have died of heatstroke, suffocation, and freezing, and others have escaped from their travel crates and the airport and disappeared into the surrounding city. Some of these have been found dead, having been hit by cars, but others have been lost forever. In recent years, airlines have been forced to provide official reports of dead, injured, or lost animals on their flights, which may have improved safety somewhat, but the grim stats still convey a terrible toll. Just in 2007 alone, 29 animals have died, six have been injured, and seven have been lost on U.S. airline flights, according to U.S. Department of Transportation reports.

When I was young and naïve, I put dogs on planes four times. I thank my lucky stars that they survived the flights. I took my first dog, Koro, with me to France, where I taught English during the 1981-1982 school year, and I traveled to Germany and back with both Koro and my second dog, Druzhok, in 1985 and 1986, where I also taught English.

That last flight did take its toll. Back then, veterinarians advised people to tranquilize dogs before putting them on a flight, and my sweet Koro took three days to come out of her chemical-induced fog after arriving back in the U.S. I was terrified that she had sustained brain damage. Nowadays, vets know better—dogs can’t regulate their body temperature as well when they’re tranquilized, so tranquilizers are not recommended. But just think of the ear-piercing engine noise and the frighteningly unfamiliar environment for a lonely dog in a cargo hold! It’s a lose-lose situation either way.

Cargo-hold travel for dogs and other animals really does need to be relegated to the past. DogTravel Company, LLC, is definitely on the right track.

Incidentally, this blog post is dedicated to my beautiful, cosmopolitan Koro, who died 14 years ago today (from splenic cancer) at the age of 13.

Lady: "I'm bored and lonely!"

A happy, mellow dog doesn't stand around idly barking. Dogs who bark nonstop are barking for a reason. Are they bored? Lonely? Frustrated? If you really care about your dog, you'll get to the root of the problem instead of just trying to shut Fido up artificially with a citronella collar. It puzzles me that even so-called "positive" dog trainers will use citronella collars, when by their very nature, they do nothing more than suppress the symptom (barking) without correcting the underlying problem. This can be considered cruel, because now the dog is still bored or lonely or frustrated but can't even express it!

For the uninitiated, a citronella collar is one that is voice-activated to spray a stream of citronella up into the dog's face when he or she dares to bark. I know—it's unbelievable on so many levels. Dogs tend to hate the smell of citronella, and here it's being blown right toward their sensitive noses. On purpose. Yet, these trainers call it an "alternative" to a shock collar. I call it six of one, half a dozen of the other. Both are unpleasant and both fail to address the underlying problem that is causing all the ruckus. Furthermore, if you suppress the barking but don't address the underlying issue, it will most definitely resurface in some other way, such as chewing on furniture or ripping up curtains.

The best way to keep a dog quiet and mellow is to take him or her for a long walk every morning. I'm not talking about a 10-minute walk around the block. I'm talking about a brisk walk that takes, at a bare minimum, 30 to 40 minutes. For you athletic types, a run is even better. Most dogs will fall into a deep sleep for hours after a satisfying walk. If you currently walk your dog at night and are having a barking problem, consider rearranging your schedule so that you can go walking first thing in the morning. This is optimal for good doggie behavior. As they say, "A tired dog is a well-behaved dog."

Dogs also need to use their minds. Sitting home alone all day is BORING. Interactive toys that dogs can play with for hours are a good antidote for that. With some of them, the dog has to roll the toy around and goodies will fall out. But the time-honored old standby is the Kong, which is basically a heavy-duty hollow rubber toy with a hole on each end that can be filled with anything, such as peanut butter or canned dog food. A dog can spend the better part of an afternoon cleaning it out. (You'll want to scrub it out periodically, too, because it'll get moldy if you don't.)

If the root cause of the barking is loneliness, a compatible companion would do the trick. Another dog is the obvious choice, but sometimes another species can fit the bill. For dogs who have to spend long hours at home alone, a dog-walker can be engaged to come in every day for another long walk and some one-on-one interaction. Or a high-school student who gets home early could be paid a small stipend for coming over to play with Fido for 45 minutes after school every day. There is no end to the kinds of creative solutions you can come up with to alleviate loneliness.

In the near future, I'm going to be blogging on a book that I'm reading called Through a Dog's Ear. It discusses sound from a dog's point of view and all the ways in which our modern human sounds can either drive dogs crazy or help to relax them. The best sound for relaxing a dog is classical music—the slower and simpler, the better―so leaving classical music on for your dog while you're away from home can also contribute to a mellower pup.

By the way, I just found out yesterday that one of the biggest manufacturers of citronella collars and other citronella products to torment dogs with, Premier Pet Products, is also the same company that produces the Easy-Walk front leash attachment harness, which helps to keep dogs from pulling too hard on the leash. This is very disappointing, as I have two Easy-Walk harnesses myself. But from now on, I'm going to buy and recommend the Sense-ation front leash attachment harness by Softouch Concepts since that company doesn't produce any other products that I would consider unethical.

This is Myshkin, my running partner and the love of my life.

The following is a guest post by my fun-loving and very dedicated colleague Alex Bury.

Cesar Millan the Dog Whisperer was interviewed in Runner's World magazine in October 2007. I didn't know he was a runner or that he loves to run with his dogs. He said, "If we all walked and ran with our dogs, it would be a better world." I wish I could make every person who has a dog read that!

Dogs need exercise. Desperately. They are quieter, calmer, more attentive, and more cuddly when they've had exercise. They are easier to train and to communicate with. I know this for a fact, because I am the same way.

In the morning, I start my PETA work and drink some coffee. Sometimes I inadvertently have two or three cups in a very short period of time. This makes me act like a young, untrained border-collie-lab-mix puppy (intense and bouncing off the walls). When that happens, I can write a lot of e-mails, but they're not exactly focused. I am not great company during this time. My poor boss has to rein me in as best he can.

But then it's lunchtime, and I always take a fast walk or run on my lunch break. In the afternoon, I write careful, thoughtful e-mails. I cross things off my "to do" list one after another. I enter my data correctly. My boss is happy, and I get to keep working for PETA.

Dogs work the same way. Dogs need to get their ya-ya's out. They need to vent and blow off steam. They may not have a caffeine addiction (and if they do, you are a guilty dog parent!), but they do have bodies that were meant to move. A lot. And yet we leave them sitting around all day. The result, like an adult on coffee or a kid on pop, is a hyper, unfocused, obnoxious creature.

This causes so many problems. When dogs jump and bark and run and chew and bounce off walls, humans aren't happy. They yell at the dogs, they put the dogs in the back yard, and worst of all, they "get rid of" the dogs because the dogs were "too hyper." No, the dogs were not too hyper. You, oh great human, you were too lazy.

If you don't like exercise, don't adopt a dog. Adopt a bunny (natural herbivores! Soft!), a geriatric dog, or, better yet, a stuffed dog toy that you can put on the couch where you apparently live as a potato.

If you run and/or walk with Rover every day, he will calm down. You and your dog will bond and get to know each other. You'll learn how to listen to each other and anticipate each other's needs and desires. He will be much easier to train after a good walk or run. You'll both be healthier and trimmer. You'll start to see your neighborhood and the changing seasons instead of Friends reruns every night.

Running and walking with a dog or multiple dogs is not a chore. It is not one of the "duties" of being a doggie parent. It is one of the gifts.

Poop-scooping: Chore.
Long walk before work: Gift.

And remember, if you are agreeing with this post but not actually getting up to take a walk ... Rover cannot do it without you. He is totally dependent on YOU. You can give him a life of total happiness and in return gain a trusted and well-behaved friend, or you can give your dog a life of misery and boredom. It's all up to you. So get up. Off the couch. Shut down the computer. Leash your dog and start putting one foot in front of the other.

And don't forget to take along some treats in your coat pocket!

Stella: "What an unpleasant sound―won't you please turn it off?"

If you were to poll my dogs regarding their least-favorite human-created sound, the shrill whine of the vacuum cleaner would certainly win, paws down. I'm guessing that the sound of the blender would come in second. If you really pay attention to all the human-made sounds that we force our dogs to be exposed to, you might be surprised at just how noisy and unnatural their sonic environment is (unless you live in the country).

Just this morning, for example, in addition to the blender, I heard a siren from a fire engine, the whistle of a train, the radio, the alarm clock, the cell phone, the telephone, the dryer, the buzz of a table saw coming from someone else's back yard, and a dog barking frantically and incessantly (I'll label that "human-created" because it's not natural for a dog to be barking like that and a human created that situation). We become inured to it, but these intrusive sounds must be taking their toll on our dogs as well as on ourselves.

This is the downside to dogs' super-adaptability. We force them to tolerate a lot of unnatural and even harmful aspects of our own lifestyles—and they do it willingly. They do it because they love humans unconditionally and want to please us. We should not take advantage of this.

I started thinking about this issue after reading the draft of a book called Through a Dog's Ear, by Joshua Leeds and Susan Wagner, D.V.M., which will be available after March 1, 2008. Leeds is an expert in psychoacoustics (the effects of sound on human beings), and Wagner is a veterinary neurologist, specializing in the human-animal bond. That combination is a powerhouse in and of itself, but they also teamed up with Lisa Spector, a concert pianist who graduated from Juilliard and has loved and been involved with dogs her entire life. Well, you know a team like that is going to come up with something wonderful, and that's exactly what they did.

The authors contend that many of our dogs' behavior problems can be traced back to or at least aggravated by the daily bombardment of human-made sounds. Given that as many as 90 percent of people who take their dogs to the vet mention a behavior problem (ranging from mild anxiety to severe aggression), some help is definitely called for. So Leeds and Wagner wrote a book about both the kinds of sounds that make dogs anxious and the kinds of sounds that make dogs relaxed.

We all know that classical music is reputed to have a calming influence on dogs, and we may even leave the classical music station on when we leave for work. But it turns out that it's not quite that simple. The authors and Spector experimented with modified classical music and presented the various versions to shelter dogs and dogs in homes in a methodical manner to check for the reduction of behaviors associated with anxiety. And what they discovered was that the most relaxing music of all for dogs was classical music in which the tempo had been slowed down to 50 to 60 beats per minute (about the same as the relaxed human heart—coincidence? I wonder) and the complexity had been reduced so that there were fewer instruments and fewer types of instruments—in most cases, just solo piano.

To get this modified classical music out to the public, Leeds and Spector have produced two CDs: One is a stand-alone 60-minute CD, and the other is a 45-minute "starter" CD that accompanies the book and that I have already played many times for my dogs. It's actually designed to be pleasing to the human ear as well as to the canine ear, and I would call it an enormous success. My canine household settles right down when this CD starts up, and so do I.

These CDs can be used in a multitude of ways to encourage relaxation. I've started hitting the "on" button as I'm going out the door, but they can also be played during thunderstorms, fireworks, visits from loud guests, illness—even in preparation for euthanasia, one of the most stressful times of all. Or just a daily dose of them, like a multivitamin, might be a good idea in order to provide a relaxing foundation to everyday life.

Simultaneously, we can attempt to reduce the noise level in our own household and immediate vicinity. How about turning off the TV when no one is really watching it? Setting your alarm clock radio to a classical music station instead of a buzzer? Teaching our dogs a word, such as "Noisy!" to let them know that we're about to make a loud noise, like turning on the blender? (I used to do that with my "nervous Nelly" Druzhok, and he really appreciated it because it prevented him from startling when I made the noise.) How about speaking to our neighbors who make unnecessary loud noises, such as one of mine who guns his engine in the driveway ad nauseam on certain days? I myself have made a pledge to turn the radio station to classical music whenever I have dogs in the car with me, instead of the news and talk shows that I'm addicted to.

Throughout the book, the authors emphasize that cleaning up your dog's sonic environment will also have a beneficial effect on your own stress level and mental health. As someone once said, "Animal rights = human rights." This is just one more example of it.

Louie: "Let's have fun!"

And they're all free!

1. A long walk every morning. With this gift, your dog is halfway to nirvana. A long walk promotes an enduring sense of well-being and contentment, and it's great for every dog's health. Walking together is also key to your bond with your dog.
2. A calm environment. Pledge never to lose your temper with or in front of your dog. If you're a drama queen, decide to stop being one now―hey, if I can do it, you can too. Dogs don't do well with drama. Serenity is more their cup of tea.
3. A holistic approach to veterinary medicine. Investigate chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs, nutrition, and all the other alternatives to the standard drugs and surgery that conventional vets offer. In most cases, these methods are less invasive yet more effective at promoting healing because they get to the root of the problem instead of just masking it or suppressing it.
4. Commitment. Adopt a dog with the same kind of commitment that you reserve for marriage. You will part company only under the most dire and irreconcilable circumstances. Otherwise, never give up on your dog's behavior problems―there is an answer out there. You just need to find it and implement it.



5. Respect. Pledge never to disparage your dog. Don't believe that your dog can't understand what you're saying. We vastly underestimate dogs' comprehension―often they can pick up on the underlying idea. In all relevant matters, consider your dog's point of view. This, of course, requires empathy, the ability to put yourself in your dog's position and see things through his or her eyes.
6. Quality time. Play a new game, like hide 'n' seek. Bring home a new toy or object of interest frequently. You get out more than your dogs do―so bring some of the world back home to them. It can be as simple as a pine cone or as elaborate as a fun, interactive toy from your local pet supply store. Hang out together and focus on Fluffy and Spot―don't let thoughts about work or anything else creep in.
7. Careful observation. Pay close attention to Fido's appearance and demeanor. Look at him from all angles (his tummy, his paw pads, under his tail, under his lips). This is the best way to detect health problems early on when they are the most treatable and least painful.



8. Hands-on attention. Dogs are sensual creatures―most of them love to be massaged, scratched, and petted. Caress or scratch them the way they like it, not the way you like it. Some dogs like a good hard scratch on the butt, while others like a medium scratch on the chest. Some love a gentle caress, while others like a deep-tissue massage. Find out what pleases your dog.
9. Some silliness. Dogs are never more photogenic than when they are being silly―a photo captures the sheer pleasure of playtime on their faces. So join them! Even initiate it. Get down on the floor and do a play bow. Find out what gets your dog in a goofy mood and do it every day.



10. Unconditional love. Love your dog with the fullness of your heart, with every fiber of your being, every hour of every day. Dogs' lives pass much too quickly, and before you know it, it's time to say goodbye. Don't waste a single moment!

These are all gifts that money can't buy, yet they are the gifts that your dog will appreciate the most. Happy holidays!

Phantom: "See? It was worth it, wasn't it? Look how well behaved I am now!"

The following is a guest post from my energetic and very compassionate friend Alex.

A lifetime ago, I lived in Alaska and spent my days rescuing dogs from the Anchorage pound. I loved dogs, and dogs were being killed at the pound (as they still are, in every city in the nation, because people are still breeding dogs), so I got involved―my first foray into activism.

I rescued, fostered, sterilized, and found homes for a heck of a lot of dogs. They destroyed the husband's nice house, upset the neighbors, and took over every minute of my life. But I loved it!

I ended up with most of the "bad" dogs. The ones nobody else wanted—sometimes because of health or age but usually because of extreme hyperactivity. These dogs were wired like they had found the mother lode of crystal meth (which I do not partake of, by the way). Ninety percent of them had a similar story: Purchased on impulse when they were cute, tiny puppies. Then they grew up (what a shock!) into 8-month-old, big, strong, totally untrained bundles of hyperness. They jumped, ran away, chewed, pissed, pooped, dug, and barked and then ran some more, and they very rarely slowed down or slept. Bad dog? No. Lazy, ignorant humans!

A lot of my foster dog training was learned the hard way. Many of the tips and tricks that are common knowledge these days were unknown back then, and I didn't even have Internet access. Positive reinforcement, training with treats, lots of exercise and affection … if only I had had KP's Dog Blog 10 years ago!

The most valuable thing I learned was patience. And this is the advice I hear myself giving most often to people with new dogs in their family. Be kind, be consistent, train them, give them lots of exercise, and BE PATIENT.

I sucked as a teenager, but my parents were patient and now they have a brilliant adult daughter who is a joy to be around. Or at least is an adult.

My boyfriend could not figure out how to cook for me. But I was patient and trained him gently with lots of positive reinforcement, and he's making tofu scramble as I write this.

Dogs deserve the same chance. If they're young and crazy, just wait. Don't be mean. Don't stop loving them. Do not even think about "getting rid" of them—only scumbags "get rid of" dogs. Puppyproof your house, laugh at their antics, and anticipate the many years that you will have with a calm and totally devoted friend once you both work through the "terrible 2's" (8 months, in dog years).

Phantom was one of those crazy dogs, perhaps the craziest of the bunch. He's a husky mix, like so many of the dogs dumped in Alaska. Sled-dog people are just as bad to dogs as greyhound racers are. They breed and breed dogs like crazy, keeping only a few who are "good enough." The rest are either dumped at the pound or by the side of the road, kept on chains to be abused or neglected, or put into sacks to drown (yes, they still do that).

Phantom was in the pound and had a tight rope around his neck, obviously put there when he was younger and smaller. He was totally unsocialized. Nuts. Crazy. Out of control. Eighty pounds of craziness. The group that I volunteered for had let me pick the dog to rescue from the pound that week, and I thought, "Well, I'll pick the one least likely to be adopted!" Everyone told me not to do it. They said that I would spend all my time and money on this one dog and that he would never, ever be adopted out. "Phooey," I said! "That's the one we're rescuing today!"

Thus began about eight months of hell. Nobody wanted Phantom. Nobody even wanted to meet
Phantom. He was the only dog to have his picture in the Anchorage Daily News and not get adopted (you could see his craziness in the photo, eyes bugging out of his head).

Some days, he came inside the house, and I couldn't get him back out for a few days. He would pee, poop, chew, eat, and bark all over the place. Other days, he would dash out back, and I couldn't get him to come back inside. He was aggressive, food-obsessed, and constantly barking. He would dash out the door into traffic, so I had to barricade the door. And he LOVED to jump. He would jump way up on people―and hard. Eighty pounds, remember.

He did gradually improve, but in my frustration and my fear of keeping him, I barely noticed. Then came a rare moment when Phantom was not moving. He was lying on the floor, sleeping in the sun. I was sitting next to him. I looked down and realized how shiny and soft his fur had become and how cute and velvety his face was. He was a gorgeous dog, one of the most striking dogs I've ever seen before or since. And even though he didn't possess social graces, he did try—he wanted to play, to be petted, to love and be loved. He just usually attempted all those activities with too much verve.

Looking down at him, I realized that I had to make a decision. Either I had to adopt him permanently, or I would have to euthanize him. Nobody was going to take him, at least nobody decent (I did have one guy approach me who was looking for a "mean" guard dog for his vacuum cleaner store). Taking him back to the pound would mean a week of fear, confusion, loneliness, cold cement floors, and then euthanasia. So I would have to do it myself, be with him, hold him, and stroke him—he deserved that much. And of course, I couldn't do it. So that was that—in that very instant, I adopted him.

And that's when things began to improve! I think Phantom had been picking up on my stress and unhappiness with him. I couldn't handle him, and I didn't want him. Dogs are much more sensitive than humans (it took the husband seven years to figure out that I didn't want him!), and I had inadvertently been confusing Phantom all this time. Once I made the mental commitment to him, we both changed. I didn't get as stressed out—and neither did he.

He didn't become a perfect dog overnight. He and I still had many months of training to get through. But it became fun and silly instead of negative and hopeless. By the time he was 5, he was a great dog. And I mean a GREAT dog. Always super-energetic and ready to get crazy, but hey―I'm the same way. He is still alive, Mr. Phantom, and he's now a soft, loving, smooshy, totally well-behaved cuddle monster. He loves dogs, cats, humans, rocks, rivers, food, hikes, runs, sleeping on the bed, car rides, and life. That dog loves life like no one I've seen, and all he needed was a little patience for him to learn how to fit in and actually have a life.

If you've got a naughty dog in your life, I simply can't believe that he or she is worse than Phantom was. Take a deep breath, make sure that Fluffy knows that you love her, and just be patient. Hidden beneath all that bad behavior, there's a jewel of a dog who will come out eventually with a little coaxing.

Smila: "Support the troops: Let them adopt stray Iraqi dogs!"

So why don't we leave them out of it? If human beings can't get along and insist on solving conflicts through violent means, fine, but why drag dogs into the mess? It's bad enough that innocent wild animals get blown to bits—or worse, maimed—by exploding bombs and gunfire, but intentionally forcing dogs and other animals to take part in human conflicts is just indefensible.

I won't bore you with my views on the current war and all wars (hint: I was married to a German conscientious objector and, before that, dated a Soviet-era Russian conscientious objector), because that's neither here nor there. The issue at hand is the ethics of forcing dogs to "serve" in combat zones.

I ran across a recent article in USA Today ("Dogs of War Bring Soldiers Peace of Mind," 12 Dec.) about two trained therapy dogs, Boe and Budge, who will be shipping out to Tikrit and Mosul, Iraq, this week. These dogs have been "acclimated to helicopter noise, explosions, gunfire, sirens" (yeah, right—please see my recent blog post "Through a Dog's Ear" for more on the effects of human-made noise on dogs' sensitive nervous systems) and "will be in areas that are kept safe" (I didn't know that they had any areas like that in Iraq). They will be working "very long days."

As usual, human needs trump dogs' needs every time. The chief training officer for America's VetDogs, which trains therapy dogs for the military and trained these two dogs, purposely picked one dog who "will cheerfully spend hours at someone's feet if that's what is asked" and another who is "hard-wired to please." It's all about pleasing the humans. Does anyone stop to think about the effect on the dogs of spending their entire day interacting with traumatized and depressed military personnel? The dogs' job is to "plug into humans," but what does all that negativity do to their sensitive psyches in the process?

America's VetDogs and Army personnel all try to make the whole thing sound acceptable by commissioning the dogs as "Army sergeants" and talking about them with patriotic fervor ("they'll be part of a vital medical team" and "we know they're going on a very important mission."). But dogs don't care about stuff like that. Sure, they like to have a job, but they are not at all invested in the big military mission, and anyone who talks about them as if they were is either in denial or, more likely, engaging in PR. What dogs care about is a stable home environment, but there's no guarantee that they'll have even that when this mission is over: At that time, they'll "likely be deployed with the handlers they have … to a new locale or reassigned to a military hospital in the USA." Sounds like they're going to be shuttled around until they're used up, just like a piece of equipment. So much for the needs of Budge and Boe.

The tragic irony of this situation is that Iraq is teeming with stray dogs, and many military personnel would love to adopt one of them, but regulations and other obstacles make it nearly impossible for them to do so. Imagine the impact on your morale if you were to fall in love with a puppy or an injured dog in Iraq and offer to take care of the animal, only to be told to forget about it—toss the dog back onto the street. And it gets worse: Often, soldiers are required to shoot stray dogs, especially any who might possibly bark and give their position away! Who wouldn't get depressed? The means for attaining a huge morale boost among the soldiers does not require the extensive and expensive training and transportation of therapy dogs from the United States. It's free and it's everywhere: Simply permit soldiers to adopt stray dogs and cats and take them home with them when their tour is over. I guarantee that this policy would have a much greater beneficial effect than the services of a few therapy dogs spread among the many traumatized and lonely troops.

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Today's blog post is dedicated to beautiful, happy-go-lucky T.J., who died this morning of kidney failure, a result of the neglectful treatment that he got from his first family. His second adoptive family gave him everything possible to make him well and surrounded him with love, but his kidney damage was too extensive, and after 18 months, he finally succumbed. We will miss him.

Did you forget to buy a holiday gift for Fido or Fluffy this year? How about trying your hand at these luscious goodies instead? They will not be disappointed.

Jones and Ellie's Holiday Biscuits

Jones and Ellie secretly slip these delicious biscuits into the other PETA office dogs' stockings around this time every year!

Ingredients

1 cup cornmeal
3½ cups whole wheat flour
1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder
4 Tbsp. Bac-Os vegetarian bacon bits
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1½ cups vegetable broth

Directions

•Preheat the oven to 350°F.Combine all the ingredients.

•Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters.

•Bake 35 to 45 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen medium-sized biscuits

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Molly's Peanut Butter Popsicles

Molly recommends these on a hot summer day, but December works too.

Ingredients

1-2 Tbsp. peanut butter
Boiling water

Directions

•Mix a tablespoon or two of peanut butter with boiling water (just enough to make it a little soupy) in a small plastic dish (e.g., a used margarine tub).

•Freeze until solid.

•Serve outdoors (it's too messy for indoors!).

Makes 1 popsicle

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Astrid’s Frosty Banana Treats

Astrid's mom says, "We live in the South, so we have hot, humid summers, which aren't great for dogs with lots of fur like Astrid. Even when she is shaved, her coat is too heavy for her to play outside for long periods during the hottest months. One of the treats that we really like to get her is the Frosty Paws that they sell at the grocery store (little tubs of doggie ice cream). A few years ago, I decided to make my own doggie ice cream instead of paying $4 for a four-pack and a ton of packaging. I freeze them in small bowls, but you can use an ice cube tray or a wide-mouth plastic container like margarine comes in. I like reusable containers because they make this a waste-free treat."

Ingredients

1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
3 cups water
2 very ripe bananas

Directions

•In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix the peanut butter and the water until well blended.

•Mash the bananas into the peanut butter mixture and blend until smooth.

•Divide the mixture among six containers of your choice.

•Freeze until solid.

Makes 6 servings

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Mante's Peanut Butter Bliss

According to Mante's mom, "Mante goes bananas over these biscuits. When he sees me pull out the fixin's and cookie cutters, he sits at the edge of the kitchen, patiently waiting for the biscuits to be cool enough to eat. Whenever he gets these, he does his "happy dance." He’ll carefully take the biscuit from my hand, then set it on the ground while he play bows and runs laps around it, all while leaping through the air. It is so silly and incredibly cute!"

Ingredients

3 cups oat flour or whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup organic creamy peanut butter
Egg-replacer equivalent of 1 egg
Water to moisten

Directions

•Preheat the oven to 325°F.

•In a large bowl combine all the ingredients. Add enough water to form a slightly sticky dough.

•On a floured board, roll the dough to a ¼-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes.

•Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the biscuits are well browned. Cool.

Makes 1 dozen biscuits

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Rogan: "Did somebody mention doggie treats?"

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Bradley Nowell took his Dalmatian, Louie, almost everywhere with him.

The following is a guest post from my dog-wise pal Amanda.

Bradley Nowell of Sublime loved a lot of things. He loved music and his band. He loved his friends and family. He loved heroin so much that it killed him. Perhaps most of all, he loved Louie, the Dalmatian he rescued from an abusive guardian who had been chaining him to a toilet in a front yard. Often referred to as Lou Dog or Louie Dog, he's mentioned in several songs that Brad wrote. In Sublime's biggest radio hit, "What I Got," he lamented that "livin' with Louie Dog's the only way to stay sane." A posthumous release of a song titled simply "I Love My Dog" is believed by fans to refer to his desire to overcome his addiction for Louie's sake. While most accounts of Brad's life read like a "how-not-to" manual, we can all stand to learn something from his near-legendary devotion to Louie.

Brad understood that the companionship of a dog shouldn't be limited by his schedule and insisted on taking Louie almost everywhere. Louie accompanied him to the beach, to parties, to the studio, and on tour―he could often be seen wandering around onstage when the band performed (I don't actually recommend allowing dogs that close to concerts―even though Dalmatians often suffer from deafness, the decibel level at any type of concert is much too high for most dogs to enjoy). Brad bragged about his best friend Louie to anyone who would listen, often boring his friends and family but no doubt making Louie very proud of himself indeed.

You don't have to be a rock star to make Rover feel like one. While parties may be overwhelming for some dogs, if you make the effort to take him anywhere you reasonably can he'll feel like a Very Important Canine. Boast about him in his presence―who cares if rude people roll their eyes or yawn? Your best pal will be happier knowing that you think he's a superstar. And there are plenty of happy, upbeat songs out there that you can insert his name into. My own Louie Dog has a special affinity for show tunes, many of which seem to have been written with the dual purpose of singing with your dog in mind. Take a lesson from Bradley and Louie: Cherish each moment, and seek out opportunities to make Rover feel special―because he is! Check out Ingrid Newkirk's latest book, Let's Have a Dog Party!, for tips on making every day of your dog's life better than the one before.

Santa comes quietly long before dawn
While shops are still busy and lights are still on
While dinners are simmering and kitchens are warm
And children count presents they'll open by morn.

He slips past the trees and the windows aglow
Through the gate to the back yard as icy winds blow
To find the pup that he brought last year chained up in the snow
And kneeling he whispers, "Are you ready to go?"

There are too many stops like this one tonight
Before the beginning of his regular flight.
He leaves not a note nor a footprint in sight
Just an unbuckled collar on a cold Christmas night.

―Author unknown

Please don't ever give an animal as a gift.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nicky and Peter say their goodbyes.

The following is a guest post by Peter Novick, a good friend and supporter of PETA.

This is an appreciation of Nicky, the only dog I ever had.

I grew up in a home with a series of cats over the years―Pudgy, Bootsie, Pudgy II, Bootsie II, etc. For many years, I had no connection with dogs whatsoever, and I didn’t understand them. I tended to avoid them, figuring they probably wanted to bite me.

Fast-forward to adult life … Almost exactly 19 years ago, my girlfriend was smitten by a wacky 2-month-old male bichon frisé who looked to me like a furry basketball sneaker. She was certain that he was meant to be with us. I was skeptical, but she generally had good intuition, so I went along with the idea. At the time, we had five young girls living in a blended household.

So we brought him home as a surprise just before Christmas. (I’ve since learned that it’s best to wait until after the excitement of the holidays to bring an animal into the household.) On that first day, we named him “Nicky,” after Saint Nicholas.

Everyone immediately fell in love with Nicky, including me, but we didn’t have a clue how to relate to him. He chased after the girls and they shrieked and jumped onto the couch, even though he probably weighed no more than 5 pounds.

The love affair lasted almost 16 years. When he died―peacefully, in my home, attended by a veterinarian, the girls, and me―I surprised everyone, including myself, when I flung a cup of water across the room, feeling angry and miserable that he was gone.

That was three and a half years ago. I still think of him often and I still look at his photos on the wall. I wondered, how could a dog have such an effect on me? So I thought about it.

My conclusion is that Nicky had a ton of qualities that moved, inspired, and instructed me. Qualities that people are “supposed” to have, but we don’t necessarily have them.

Here are some of them:

Loyalty. Tolerance. Forgiveness. Curiosity. Playfulness. Kindness. Gentleness. Trust. Optimism. Love of life. Determination. Stubbornness. Detachment. An open mind. An open heart. Physical beauty. Affection. Compassion.

That’s a lot of good qualities. I’d like to share some random memories of Nicky that capture his personality:

All five girls sitting around Nicky, brushing his fur and giving him a makeover. He just sat there patiently, waiting for them to be done with it. He objected only when they accidentally pulled his fur.

He looked different after every haircut. One time, the dog groomer gave him a very feminine poodle-style haircut. I didn’t like it at all, but Nicky was fine with it―he didn’t care. The next time we went to the groomer, I complained, “Give him a Clint Eastwood look this time!” They were baffled, but they did their best. Nicky was fine with his new tough guy look too.

Occasionally I’d do something hurtful to him, like yell at him for misbehaving, or maybe I’d accidentally step on his foot. The longest grudge he held against me was maybe 15 seconds.

Over the years, Nicky shared the house with infants, other dogs, cats, ferrets, and even pot-bellied pigs. Upon the first meeting, he’d walk over to them, sniff them, and inspect them, then he’d decide that they were OK, and he’d go about his own business.

Occasionally, we accidentally left the front door open and Nicky would take off on an adventure. One day, a neighbor carried Nicky back to our house in her arms. She explained that her own front door had been open and Nicky had walked into her house, jumped onto her couch, and climbed into her lap.

In his final year, Nicky’s health was failing. He had diabetes, arthritis, hearing loss, and incontinence, and he was gradually going blind. He didn’t like it, but he didn’t complain at all, and he never lost his dignity.

Bet you thought this was going to be about dogs' haircoats, didn't you? No, not this time. I feel the need to talk about homeopathy and how useful it can be in treating dogs' health problems. In the general American population, there seems to be very little understanding of and a great deal of resistance to this interesting type of alternative medicine. Many people think it has to do with herbs or that it's some kind of Chinese medicine. Nothing could be further from the truth. It was actually developed in Germany only about 200 years ago in a very systematic and scientific manner. In the 1800s, it was even the medicine of choice in North America! And today it's widely used and prescribed in many parts of the world, including Europe. Luckily, holistic doctors and veterinarians in the U.S. continue to make it available for people who value its safety and effectiveness.

Over the holidays, one of my young relatives had a nasty cold that was making him feel miserable and irritable, so I offered his parents a homeopathic cold remedy to give him. They just rolled their eyes and laughed and wouldn't even entertain the idea or discuss it. Then last night, I was speaking to a holistic veterinarian, and she told me that when it came time for her to decide which type of alternative treatment to specialize in, she chose acupuncture over homeopathy because she knew how resistant people are to it—yet she uses it all the time on her own kids. Imagine—people are less resistant to having needles poked into their bodies than to taking homeopathic remedies! What's going on here?

Sunny and Dexter have both received homeopathic remedies for eye irritations, sprains, and infections.

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician and the brains behind homeopathy, discovered in the early 19th century that if you gave quinine, the treatment at the time for malaria, to a person without malaria, that person would develop the symptoms of malaria. So then he started experimenting (on himself and his human friends) with other substances to see what effect they had on a healthy person and whether they would counteract the same symptoms in an ill person. Since some of the substances that he wanted to test were toxic, he decided to dilute them by quite a lot, and to his surprise, he discovered that while losing the toxic side effects, they also became much more potent in their healing capacity! He also inadvertently discovered that the homeopathic remedies worked better if they were vigorously shaken each time they were diluted.

So what you have are remedies made out of all kinds of substances (mostly plants and minerals, but some animal products as well), diluted tens and hundreds and thousands of times over, and vigorously shaken. These remedies are made into tablets, pellets, granules, and liquids—most of which contain not even a single molecule of the original substance! OK, that IS weird, but what they do contain is some kind of "memory" of the substance, whether it's electrical or magnetic or something else—no one knows exactly how it works.

But what we do know is that it definitely does work. It even worked on cholera and typhoid back in the day. I myself have been using homeopathic remedies on my dogs prescribed by vets or selected on my own for more than 20 years, and sometimes the results can be truly thrilling in their quick resolution of symptoms. Other times, there is a more gradual improvement, but the beauty of homeopathy is that even if the wrong remedy is chosen and the results aren't what you want, there won't be any side effects. So what have you got to lose? If you've tried everything else and nothing has worked, or if the only other treatment option is something harsh and laden with side effects, homeopathy is certainly a better choice. There's no harm in trying. And if you get the right remedy, you could have a spectacular permanent cure.

Choosing the right remedy is best left up to a veterinary homeopath, because it can be pretty complicated. There are thousands of remedies, and the chosen one will reflect not just the dog's immediate symptoms, but also the dog's overall temperament, manner, and constitution. You can find a homeopath by going to the Web site of The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy or to the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. These homeopaths practice "classical homeopathy," and many of them will work with you over the phone.

On the other hand, there is a more relaxed (albeit controversial) approach, in which several remedies known for helping with a particular ailment are combined into one product, labeled according to the health issue (such as "cough" or "hayfever"), and sold to the public in this form at drugstores or health-food stores. The idea is that one of the remedies included in the product will do the trick. This isn't ideal and usually doesn't result in a lasting cure (it just helps to manage or alleviate a health problem), but the advantage is that it's readily available without a vet appointment.

The one thing about homeopathic remedies is that they are very delicate. Keep in mind that the active part of the remedy is made up of energy of some kind, so it's easily deactivated. Because of this, homeopathic remedies should never be handled (you have to get them from the package directly into your dog's mouth, possibly with the aid of a spoon), they should never be given to your dog within a half hour of eating or drinking, and they should be kept away from electrical fields and strong odors, especially mint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil.

Homeopathy is safe, humane, effective, and fascinating—why not read up on it a little and then give it a whirl? You might find that you have discovered an exciting new treatment option for your dog's health woes.

This chained dog was aptly named "Torture"; his poor excuse for a doghouse is full of water. A dog like this would be an excellent candidate for your ongoing attention.

In case there is a spot remaining on your list of New Year's resolutions, I have a good one for you. This one will warm your heart and the heart of a grateful dog. Here it is:

First, scour your neighborhood on foot or by bike to locate at least one neglected dog. Chained and penned dogs are obviously neglected, but dogs that have the run of the entire yard can be neglected too. Any dog who is left outside 24/7 is neglected.

Next, evaluate the dog's living conditions. What kind of shelter does the dog have? How clean or filthy is the area in which the dog is living? Does the dog have water? Is it frozen or covered with algae? Zero in on Fido's health. Does he have runny eyes? Diarrhea? Scaly or red patches of skin with no fur? A cough?

Once you've taken stock of the situation, take a deep breath and go see if you can make friends with the owners. Depending on your temperament, you may need to give an Oscar-worthy performance, but keep in mind whose life is at stake. If the owners have some pretty flowers in the yard, rave about them. If they have a car, mention how cool you think that model is. Anything to curry favor with the owners and win their trust.

Gradually, incrementally over time, work Fido into the conversation. Mention that you've been meaning to start getting more exercise and would they let you walk their dog for them? Bring along a chew toy and tell them that your own dog doesn't want it and would their dog like to have it? Stop by with a bale of straw and say that you got it for free from a friend of yours—would Fido like to have it in his doghouse or scattered on top of the mud? Offer to put it there yourself (because they probably won't bother). Mention that you noticed that Fido has diarrhea and you have to take your own dog to the vet anyway, so would they like you to take Fido along, too, just to check for worms? Perhaps Fido could even come to your house to play with your dogs?

Ideally, you would eventually become a trusted friend, permitted to come and take Fido to your house to play with your dogs at any time. Once you're in that position, you can be sure that he gets everything he needs and more. And you will definitely be the person the owners turn to if they ever decide to give Fido up. But it takes patience to get there.

If you meet with nothing but negativity or even outright hostility, don't give up. Search for ways to ingratiate yourself with the owners. If all else fails, at the very least you can stop by once a day and give Fido a treat or a dog biscuit, scratch him under the chin, and check on his water. He will deeply appreciate anything you can do to alleviate his woes. And if things are just abominable to the point of being illegal and you can’t get anywhere with the owners, call the authorities. Notify the local animal control department, the nearest SPCA, the newspapers, or even PETA. Just do something. You are that dog's only hope.