Sunday evening, I was flipping through the channels when I came across a program called
NATURE’s Underdogs that tells the story of two dogs whose lives were saved by people who saw their potential for greatness and gave them jobs.

Holly, a young bloodhound had been through several homes and was at the end of her rope at a rescue shelter, when a professional who trains dogs for law enforcement agencies spotted her. He saw a young dog who was smart but needed to have a job in order to end her destructive behavior.  read more »

I love entrepreneurial thinking. Two seemingly different companies, Walker Elder Suites and dog training business Fresh Air Training have come together to create a symbiotic relationship. Fresh Air Training runs its Pint Size Play group every Sunday at Walker Elder Suites and it couldn't be a healthier relationship—for the businesses, the dogs and the residents who live at Walker.  read more »

Sometimes love alone cannot heal the deepest of wounds. Jeannine Moga, today's guest blogger, has shared her life with many animals, some of whom came into her life with the tell-tale signs of suffering from trauma. Many of us who have rescued animals can relate to Jeannine's experiences and sentiment that sometimes love is not enough to help the animals who cross our paths.

When Love Is Not Enough
By Jeannine Moga

There was a time when I thought that love and effort could right any wrong, could heal any hurt, could mend that which was broken. That was before I welcomed a severely traumatized animal into my home. I learned the hard way that love is not enough.  read more »

I grew up in Cedar Rapids. A life-long friend called to say my old house is under water.

The video footage showing the submerged street sign for "C Street" …I lived on D Street. It's all rather disconcerting. I haven't lived in that house for more than 20 years, but I remember every corner of it and sometimes find myself back there in dreams.  read more »

Yep. Dakota and Meadow licked the hand of our state's Governor. On a recent trip up North, my husband Brian was trying to decipher a trail map to keep us from hiking down the wrong path, when a family of three came up the direction we were debating on taking. The woman offered some directional advice and recommended we steer clear of certain trails.

Brian and the woman chatted for a bit, while Meadow nudged the hand of the young girl. The girl patted Meadow on the head, I praised Meadow for sitting nicely, when the man of the trio said, "I have some Milk Bone pieces in my pocket. Do you mind if I give them a treat?"  read more »

We've all seen it -- someone driving with a dog on his or her lap. The dog looks happy enough sticking its head out the window perched on its owner's lap. But I must confess, there just seems to be something fundamentally wrong with having a small dog on your lap while driving.

California is preparing to take the dogs off drivers' laps. A bill is expected to be passed that will fine drivers caught with pets on their laps while driving.

One could make an argument that driving while talking on a cell phone is just as distracting while driving with a pet on your lap. But my cell phone isn't moving about the car, interfering with my ability to navigate the steering wheel, or teetering on my legs as I operate the pedals. Also, if I drop my cell phone and it falls beneath my feet, I'm not worried about killing it under my break pedal.

So, what do you think? Is driving with a pet on your lap any more dangerous than driving while talking on a cell phone?

What Is The Origin Of "Cat Got Your Tongue?"
by Laura French

Most children get this question posed to them at some point by an adult interrogator. The context is always that the child is not speaking up when some response is called for. Sometimes, the child is just being shy in a social situation. Other times, the child is understandably reluctant to confess to mischief. The origins of this phrase are the subject of lots of debate.  read more »

"Being Chosen"
By Jeannine Moga

After the recent, unexpected death of one of my dogs, a dear friend reminded me of the blessing that comes from sharing a mutual and loving relationship, if only for a short time:  "everyone needs to be chosen," she said, "and you chose him."

I distinctly remember the day I walked down the run of kennels, looking into the eyes of each hound.  "Mr. Bean's" eyes were piercing but gentle, and when I opened his kennel he placed his forehead against my chest.  The connection was instantaneous.  I brought him home shortly thereafter, and I am convinced to this day that the choice was mutual.

Looking back on how I became partnered with each of my animals (four dogs and two horses over the course of my adulthood), I can safely say that I've been the chosen one more times than not.  It's an idea I reflect on frequently, not just because of my own personal experiences but because of my profession, which enables me to hear other people's stories of how they come together with their beloved animals.  One of my favorite questions to ask them is how they and their animal found each other - and I am always amazed at the depth and breadth of their responses.  read more »

I can find no sympathy in my heart for humans who neglect or abuse. I don't care what the circumstances are that drive a person to atrociously neglect animals. I'm speaking to the horrific discovery of
19 dead horses and nine more clinging to life on a farm in central Minnesota.

Of the surviving nine, three had to be destroyed. The remaining six are now in the care of the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation (MHARF). And that is why I am blogging on this topic.  read more »

“There’s More Than One Way to Skin a Cat” by Laura French

Many sources have speculated that this phrase refers to catfish rather than felines. Catfish do not have scales. Their mucous-covered skin gets thick and tough as they age, and their fins are sharp enough to slice through fingers. Instructions on Phil King’s Catfishing Website call for a Kevlar glove and special skinning tool — other sites recommend a pair of pliers.  read more »