Sunday, April 27, 2008

Time to work out!

It's almost summer, let's go to the gym and shake off the excess fats!






That was a great 20-minute workout!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Presents for a Good Boy


Mom said that I had been a good boy, so on a recent trip to the Dogo Cafe, she got me a present. Guess what's in the bag?


Yay! It's a Planet Dog Bouncy Foot Ball! It has a Chew-o-meter rating of 4 out of 5 chompers, so I guess it is going to last for quite some time. We can stuff treats through the holes on both ends of the ball and we can also freeze it for a nice summer icy chew too! Fun!


There were so many other toys to choose from and we could play with some of the samples before we decided on the one we liked.


This is Mocca the dachshund, he is one of the resident dogs of the cafe.


Mom had lasagna for lunch.


One present is not enough, so Mom also got me a soft pillow from a street vendor.


Hmmm.....it's nice to be a good boy!

Friday, April 25, 2008

A Gift from My Friend in USA

Look what we got in the mail! A gift from my friend at The Gold Post! Yippie!!!


Does not smell like cookies. Is it a pillow?


It certainly feels like a pillow.


It is quite comfortable. ZZZzzzzzzz.....


Ta...Da!!!! It's my very own lovedino sign!



This is what I can do with my new toy!

Thank you so much for the wonderful wooden sign, I love it!!!!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Eating Out with Mom

Mom tries to bring me everywhere she goes, so she is always on a lookout for dog friendly places to bring me.

Recently, we have been going to the wet market and supermarket near us. Have I told you that I stole half a chicken when mom was digging into her wallet to pay the stall holder at the wet market? That created quite a stir on a Monday morning and a crowd gathered around me to watch me with the chicken in my mouth. Mom took awhile to get me to drop that juicy chicken. When I finally dropped it, mom got the stall holder to chop it up for us to bring home, so I had that fat juicy half of a chicken for my meals last week. Yummy! Mom wasn't too pleased with me, but I think she forgave me quite quickly.

Besides going to the market, I accompany Mom to lunch some times. This is one of her favorite spots: A Japanese vegetarian eatery and a coffee bar side by side.







This is her healthy lunch.


I am ready to eat too!


Looks like I'm not getting any : ( I am pouting!


They have lots of fancy drinks here and I am smiling my Dino smile :D


This is the nice lady at the coffee bar.


檢視較大的地圖

Kawai Coffee Bar & Japanese Vegetarian Eatery
Address: Heping East Road Sec. 3 No. 345 Taipei
(臺北市大安區和平東路三段345號)

I will explore more with mom and if we do find more dog friendly places, we will share it with you here.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Let's Go to Dajia Riverside Park 大佳河濱公園



We have been going to this park on many weekends, it is one of my favorites. Although there is a designated dog park called Ying Feng Dog Exercising Park nearby, many dog owners prefer to bring their dogs here instead. I made many friends here, both human and furry ones. I had so much fun every time, I hope we can go again this weekend.




檢視較大的地圖

Monday, April 21, 2008

Something to Celebrate!



Yesterday was the last lesson for the Dr. Dog Basic Obedience class, it was also test day.

Eight students took the test and five passed and guess what? I scored the highest points in class! Woohoo! Dad was super proud of me, but not so proud of himself. Our instructor said that although I did well, she expected more from Dad as I could do most of the commands already, she also said that Dad was too soft and not enthusiastic enough with his praises. I don't blame Dad because we were the first ones to go for the test and he was both nervous and shy.

Anyhow, Dad and Mom were very happy that we will be starting intermediate class next week. Guess the training will get tougher as we go. Thank you everyone for sending your encouraging words and rooting for me! I will continue to put my best paw forward!

After the class, we had a play date with Lucy, a three year old golden retriever. She belongs to our neighbor, but she does not live in our same estate so this was the first time I got to play with her. Being a gentleman, I didn't snatch the ball from Lucy, I just walked around and watched her retrieve until she was tired and Mom as usual, was busy snapping photos of her while Dad was chatting with Lucy's owner.



Lucy is a cutie, isn't she?

Friday, April 18, 2008

Stop Korea from Legalizing Dog Meat Consumption



This is rather shocking and disturbing, so let's all send a letter each to Korea's President and Mayor to help save our furry friends in Korea.
(View with Caution: Graphic Content in link and video)


Please also help to spread the word to your friends and families. Thanks!



One person one letter to Korea's new president

Korean President Lee Myung-bak

Email: webmaster@president.go.kr

Subject: Stop Korea from Legalizing Dog Meat Consumption

Dear President Lee Myung-bak:

Greetings, and first of all congratulations on becoming the new president of Korea! While people all around the world have been paying close attention to the political and economic reforms you are promoting and to your political performance and achievements, we have heard a worrying, shocking piece of news – on the 24th of March this year Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a “Dog Meat Hygiene Management Policy”, which lists dogs as “livestock”! And it is also expected that, that after Korea’s parliamentary elections end in April, and after holding a related hearing in May, a proposal will be made immediately to the Central Government to amend the “Livestock Products Processing Act”, officially legislating that dog meat be listed as a livestock product. Therefore, animal protection groups from your country gathered in front of Seoul City Hall on March 25th and 26th to protest.

Korea’s hi-tech and electronic products are sold throughout the world, and the so-called “Korean Wave”, which includes all kinds of entertainment, food and tourism industries, has also greatly increased the interest of people all across Asia in Korea, helping characterize Korea as a country of great culture and originality. However, many people in Asia and the rest of the world see dogs as companions, and if you do indeed legislate that dogs are to be listed as “livestock”, this will make Korea the first country in the world to legalize dog meat consumption, and will make you the first national leader in the history of civilization to list dogs as “animals for consumption”! This will not only harm your country, it will also hurt all the people in the world who care about animal rights and civilized development. Our perception of the status and value of Korean culture and creativity, and of all Korean products, tourism and entertainment programs will suffer a great negative impact, and this may even lead to an “Anti-Korean Wave”!

Dogs are simply dogs, and no matter whether in biological theory or in real life, they are not divided into pet dogs, companion dogs and edible dogs. Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Thailand have all already legally banned the consumption of dog meat. Although there are still a few countries and people in Asia who still consume dog meat, their living standards are, on average, far lower than those of Korea, and until now there has never been a country which has, through national law, legalized the act of eating dog meat!

People have raised dogs and cats as companions for at least twelve thousand years, and in the last 20 or 30 years, “anthrozoology” has gradually brought about a consensus: companion animals bring psychological and physical benefits to humans. They can give humans intimacy and support, alleviate the negative health impacts of stress, and also enhance people’s ability to prevent and resist disease. Modern day Criminal Sociology is also drawing the conclusion that there is a high degree of correlation between cruelty to animals and domestic violence and child abuse. Once dogs become animals that can be freely butchered for their meat, there will be unimaginable negative social and educational impacts on public psychology.

In the course of civilization, humans always reflect upon the many cruelties of nature. Amongst the issues of environmental protection, “meat” has already been labeled a high-carbon food, and livestock farming is a major source of greenhouse gases. In order to create a more humane society, and for the sake of the sustainability of human civilization, we as co-citizens of this planet hope with all sincerity that your government will under no circumstances make this mistaken decision, causing humanity take a step backwards on the road to civilized development, and at the same time impacting on Korea’s foreign trade development. In addition, we hope that your government can, as soon as possible, prohibit the consumption of dog meat, in order to enhance animal welfare in Korea.


Signed=
Country=
Date=

----------------------------------------------------------------


One person one letter to the Mayor of Seoul, Korea

Mayor Oh Se-hoon

Email: ohsehoon@seoul.go.kr

Subject: Stop Korea from Legalizing Dog Meat Consumption

Dear Mayor Oh Se-hoon,

In Taiwan, we have heard a worrying, shocking piece of news – on the 24th of March this year Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a “Dog Meat Hygiene Management Policy”, which lists dogs as “livestock”! And it is also expected that, that after Korea’s parliamentary elections end in April, and after holding a related hearing in May, a proposal will be made immediately to the Central Government to amend the “Livestock Products Processing Act”, officially legislating that dog meat be listed as a livestock product. Therefore, animal protection groups from your country gathered in front of Seoul City Hall on March 25th and 26th to protest.

Korea’s hi-tech and electronic products are sold throughout the world, and the so-called “Korean Wave”, which includes all kinds of entertainment, food and tourism industries, has also greatly increased the interest of people all across Asia in Korea, helping characterize Korea as a country of great culture and originality. However, many people in Asia and the rest of the world see dogs as companions, and if you do indeed legislate that dogs are to be listed as “livestock”, this will make Korea the first country in the world to legalize dog meat consumption, and will make you the first national leader in the history of civilization to list dogs as “animals for consumption”! This will not only harm your country, it will also hurt all the people in the world who care about animal rights and civilized development. Our perception of the status and value of Korean culture and creativity, and of all Korean products, tourism and entertainment programs will suffer a great negative impact, and this may even lead to an “Anti-Korean Wave”!

Dogs are simply dogs, and no matter whether in biological theory or in real life, they are not divided into pet dogs, companion dogs and edible dogs. Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Thailand have all already legally banned the consumption of dog meat. Although there are still a few countries and people in Asia who still consume dog meat, their living standards are, on average, far lower than those of Korea, and until now there has never been a country which has, through national law, legalized the act of eating dog meat!

People have raised dogs and cats as companions for at least twelve thousand years, and in the last 20 or 30 years, “anthrozoology” has gradually brought about a consensus: companion animals bring psychological and physical benefits to humans. They can give humans intimacy and support, alleviate the negative health impacts of stress, and also enhance people’s ability to prevent and resist disease. Modern day Criminal Sociology is also drawing the conclusion that there is a high degree of correlation between cruelty to animals and domestic violence and child abuse. Once dogs become animals that can be freely butchered for their meat, there will be unimaginable negative social and educational impacts on public psychology.

In the course of civilization, humans always reflect upon the many cruelties of nature. Amongst the issues of environmental protection, “meat” has already been labeled a high-carbon food, and livestock farming is a major source of greenhouse gases. In order to create a more humane society, and for the sake of the sustainability of human civilization, we as co-citizens of this planet hope with all sincerity that your government will under no circumstances make this mistaken decision, causing humanity take a step backwards on the road to civilized development, and at the same time impacting on Korea’s foreign trade development. In addition, we hope that your government can, as soon as possible, prohibit the consumption of dog meat, in order to enhance animal welfare in Korea.


Signed=
Country=
Date=

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Phew! Happy Healthy Hips!

Mom and Dad have always been concerned about my hips because they sway quite a bit when I walk. During the pet expo in Taipei last year, they chanced upon a booth promoting Canine Hips Dysplasia awareness called dogchd.net (犬髖關節狗友會). They picked up some pamphlets, a deck of playing cards and a reversible red scarf for me.



Canine Hips Dysplasia (CHD), simply put, is the poor development of the hip joints and it affects mostly large breed dogs. It is an inherited disease and it is often made worse due to environmental factors such as over-nutrition, rapid growth and excessive trauma during the early growing stages of a dog's life.



dogchd.net was founded by Amy Zhang in 2004. Amy's golden retriever, Yellow had severe hip dysplasia and the whole family went through a difficult time seeking proper treatment for Yellow. Through dogchd.net, Amy aims to bring dog lovers together, create awareness for this hereditary disease and educate people to be responsible dog owners.

So, we went to Elwood Animal Clinic where many members of the group brought their dogs to get their hips checked.

The vet first took a video of me walking and then he started examining my joints before I was sedated for the Xray. From the preliminary assessment and Xray, there is a fine white line on each side of the joints and the vet says if he were to give me an OFA rating, I would be given a FAIR.

Vet said that there is a possibility that I may develop hip dysplasia when I am about 5 to 6 years old. He said I can resume my normal exercise, but not on slippery surfaces. He also suggested low dosages of Glucosamine and Chondrotin for me to help strengthen my joints. Vet also advised Dad and Mom to bring me for a checkup and Xray every one or two years.

If you are interested to find out more about CHD, check out the following links:

http://www.offa.org

http://www.pennhip.org

Here are some photos at the clinic, Vet said I was a strong boy as I was already waking up 15 minutes after the sedation!



This is the clinic


15 minutes after anesthesia


Trying to open my eyes and lift my head


Xray One


Xray Two


Walking wobbly and ready to go home.

It is a huge relief that I do not have hips dysplasia even though I got a "Fair" rating for my checkup. I have started eating Cosequin DS which contains 500mg of Glucosamine and 400mg of Chondrotin per tablet everyday. Here's to Happy Healthy Hips forever!

And to all my furry friends out there: If you are at least 4 months old, get your owners to have your hips checked today! Early detection can save you lots of pain and suffering.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Everyone Loves Cherry!

So, I was saying in my previous post that Mom spotted a star. We were all sitting there and then Mom suddenly got so excited because she spotted Cherry, the most famous golden retriever in Taiwan. Cherry is like a super star in Taiwan, she has a very popular blog (http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/f31010010) and has made many appearances on TV and newspaper prints.



Look at Cherry, isn't she a darling?

Cherry was with two other friends, Whisky and Brandy. (They have a blog too!)


This is Whisky.


And this is Brandy.

Mom went absolutely gaga over Cherry, I don't blame her because Cherry is a real sweetheart and has a very endearing personality. EVERYONE LOVES CHERRY!

Of course we wouldn't pass on a photo opportunity with a celebrity, so I was made to pose beside Cherry.




This one is the best I could managed, guess I was just a little overwhelmed.



Just look at mom! She couldn't stop smiling.


Baby's mom was also excited to have a photo taken with Cherry.





Look at my crazy mom again! She totally ignored me for 10 minutes! She absolutely adores Cherry and she was completely starstruck!

So that was a nice ending to a wonderful afternoon. Many thanks to Cherry and Cherry's dad for being so obliging! Cherry brought smiles everywhere she went and I am sure mom was not the only one smiling yesterday.