Recently, my favorite Shiba mailing list erupted into some nasty bouts of name calling and misunderstandings. The whole thing was brought about by a troll who apparently joined the list just to start trouble. What’s the fastest way to start trouble on a list? Bring up a hot button topic! Shibas are notoriously untrustworthy off-leash. […]
Dogs
Most of my dog-related posts (about Snickers, Secret, the foster dogs, NYC Shiba Rescue, etc.) have moved to jennaandsnickers.com.
My sister lost her heart dog, Chase, last night. He was a good boy and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him, but most of all by my sister. We’ve both had a lot of pets through the years, but Chase was the dog for my sister and even though she knew his […]
A quick, to-the-point, article about the pet industry and the animals who suffer because of it.
…and Shiba Inu Owners!
I’ve told this story so many times now - verbally, in IM, and by email - that I’m losing track of who knows and who doesn’t! I only just told my SISTER about it today and it happened on Saturday morning. As I was just answering “what happened” again by email, I realized I should POST it and then I can just point people here instead of rewriting.
Snickers and I went to the NYC Shiba Inu meetup this past Saturday morning at the Madison Square Park dog run. Snickers was having a BLAST because it was COLD out, so he was playing chase with a bunch of dogs. He kept coming up to me and asking ME to play though, so finally I did. I took off chasing him. We made it from the west end of the run to the east and had turned around running back and just as I was picking up speed, I crossed paths with a Pit Bull that was also playing chase. The Pit was solid muscle, about 60 pounds maybe and going WAY faster than I was. I collided with him and went up and over. I was airborn and then crash landed (in pea gravel) on my right knee.
Those of you outside NYC probably don’t realize there is a RAGING debate going on here about off-leash time in the city parks. Even so, I think any dog person can appreciate this Op Ed in the Times today. I’ve said for years that having dogs somehow makes us more human… Op-Ed Contributor My Life […]
Periodically, on my way to work, I see a woman walking two older dogs, I think one is a Yorkie and the other, a Maltese. I don’t know how often I pass her - maybe not so often - but periodically for over 3 1/2 years is enough to have a sense of recognition. I […]
I understand that there are terrible things happening to people all over the world and even in my neighborhood. I care very much about those things, but that doesn’t mean I can’t care about less dire things. I also realize that only a relatively wealthy society like ours can afford the “extras” we give our […]
Malcolm Gladwell posted a follow-up on his blog regarding the Cesar Millan profile. The entry - and the comments - are quite interesting.
If you like Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point) or Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) or both, you’re going to love Gladwell’s profile of Millan for The New Yorker, May 22, 2006.
A couple months ago, someone posted information to Shiba-L regarding a convicted animal abuser and a whole conversation followed regarding the way animals are treated right here in the good ol’ USA. Our government may not go around beating dogs, but we certainly have our share of people that think animals are worthless and without […]
There’s a battle going on in NYC regarding off-leash time in the parks. The Parks Dept. allows dogs to be off-leash in many large public parks (that don’t have dog runs) before 9:00 AM and after 9:00 PM. (Sadly, as any fellow Shiba owned will tell you, I can not take advantage of this cool […]
A fellow New York dog owner, Amanda Soto (and her dog Butch, of course), started a group on Dogster recently called "NYC - Let me get on that train!" It did not take long for that group to start growing! Long story short, discussion was had and then Amanda did a lot of work to […]
If the trailer for a movie makes you cry, don’t go see it. Seriously. Don’t.
Coincidentally, when I went out to walk Snickers last night, the RealFeel temp was EIGHT BELOW! Seriously. Anyhoo… My mom emailed me last night and said I have to see this movie, Eight Below. At first I couldn’t place it, so I looked it up on imdb. That jogged my memory. I saw a trailer […]
By TED KERASOTE Published: February 13, 2026 THE 130th Westminster Dog Show comes to New York today, with its thousands of contestants, ranging in size from two-pound Chihuahuas to 120-pound Great Danes. As the highly groomed dogs prance down the runways of Madison Square Garden ? the floor-length coats of the Afghan hounds swaying, the […]
While researching dog food for Snickers a few months ago, I ran across Flying Dog Press. The site belongs to a dog trainer (who, according to my sister, is quite well known, but I didn’t know that at the time). The trainer, Suzanne Clothier, wrote a book which was featured on the website. It sounded […]
I’ve recently started reading this great journal about the shelter/rescue/foster/adoption situation in NYC. It really makes you think about how irresponsible society is in regards to the well being of our pets. It’s also made me guiltily think “I would help if I could,” which JUST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH. I’m afraid I can’t foster in […]
Lunch break blogging: I am still trying to figure out what to do about the holidays and Snickers. Last year (the first year we had Snick) my family came to NYC for the holidays. This year we are going to see my sister in Indianapolis. I am wary of planning to drive there as the […]