Lily the teacup Chihuaua naps in a hat (photo)

March 16, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw Leave a Comment

Lily, the teacup Chihuahua (Photo credit & (c) Shannon Becker)

When I saw this photo on my friend Shannon Becker’s Facebook page, I thought it was so cute I had to share it with you!

Lily is a 9-week-old, long haired, teacup Chihuahua who recently came to live at the Becker household. On a car ride this week, Shannon’s 8-year-old daughter Elle tucked the tiny pup into the hat, where Lily promptly settled in for a nap.

Too cute!

Shannon Becker is the Sr. Director of Promotions and Marketing at Big Town Productions, where he works with some of Christian music’s biggest record labels and most familiar names. You can learn more at his website, Big Town Productions.

Check out more reader photos!

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Update on Lily and Maddison, the blind dog and her doggie guide pal

February 8, 2012 By Joanne Brokaw 1 Comment

Lily and Maddison captured the hearts of dog lovers around the world.

Last fall, dog lovers around the world were captivated by the story of Lily the blind Great Dane and her companion Maddison. Lily became blind after doctors removed her eyes when she developed a condition called entropion and Maddison became her eyes to the world.

The dogs were turned over to Dogs Trust Shrewsbury in the UK when their owner couldn’t care for them. Their photo made the rounds on Facebook, until a family in Crewe, Cheshire, UK offered a home to both of these gentle giants.

And they lived happily ever after … well, eventually.

A reader alerted me to a BCC story from last November that said that Lily had been returned to Dogs Trust while Maddison remained in her new home. Oh no! So I contacted Dogs Trust for the whole story and they shared this update:

“Initially, Lily and Maddison found a home together, but there were some problems settling in. Both girls were returned to the centre to work with our behaviour specialists, and after extensive efforts it was decided that for their own safety and future happiness it would be better to rehome them separately. The family that had wanted to take them both was still very keen to be involved, and it was decided that the home would be best suited to Maddison.

Lily remained at the centre for just a few weeks longer and has now settled into her own home where she loves her walks and toys.”

Lily and Maddison were such great companions in their first home, but it’s not unusual for things to change when the circumstances change. Dogs aren’t robots; sometimes they just decide they don’t want to live together any more and there’s nothing that will change their minds. (I have two dogs who were great pals for six months, and then decided they detest each other.)

And maybe, from a spiritual sense, Lily and Maddison are exactly where they’re supposed to be. Two lovely dogs are blessings to two loving families.

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Filed Under: Animal rescue, Animals in the news, Dogs Tagged With: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Pet sales banned at malls nationwide; rescue stores begin to replace pet shops

December 15, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw 14 Comments

Westside Pavillion mall in Los Angeles, as the heart of the recent change in policy for Macerich malls.

Even though the story broke in October, it’s still making the rounds on Facebook -  just in time for Christmas: retail developer Macerich announced that it will no longer allow pet stores that sell animals in more than 70 malls nationwide. According to a story from October at GlobalAnimal.org, “This new humane policy designed to break the puppy mill business chain is taking effect nationwide within 30 days. Macerich confirmed that they will not renew the leases of existing pet stores that sell animals and in their place, are opening humane stores offering adoptions of rescued pets.”

And Macerich isn’t the only retailer stepping up to the plate. According to Best Friends Animal Society, “Irvine Company, owner of shopping centers throughout central Orange County, California, implemented a policy to not rent to retailers planning to sell dogs and cats in any of its shopping centers a few months ago. The company noted, though, that it would honor its existing contractual commitment with Russo’s Pet Experience until its lease expires in October 2012.”

This wasn’t an overnight success. In October 2008, Best Friends Puppies Aren’t Products Los Angeles (PAPLA) began protesting in front of Barkworks in the Westside Pavillion in Los Angeles. When Macerich restricted the group’s access to protest only in specified areas of the mall, Best Friends sued for the right to protest in other areas of the mall. Best Friends lost that lawsuit, but in 2010 the California Courts of Appeals ruled in favor of Best Friends. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Animal health, Animal rescue, Animals and the law, Animals in the news, Dogs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , 14 Comments

Black bear hitches a ride to downtown Vancouver atop a garbage truck (video)

December 14, 2011 By Joanne Brokaw Leave a Comment

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Earlier today I shared with you a story about some juvenile black-tailed deer who hopped aboard a fishing boat last year for a ride to safety. This week comes news that on Monday, a black bear hitched a ride on top of a garbage truck and ended up in downtown Vancouver.

Silly old bear.

Conservation officer Alex Desjardins told the Vancouver Sun that its believed the bear was inside of a dumpster that was picked up in North Vancouver on Monday. Bear climbs in for a snack, dumpster is … well, dumped … into truck, and ta da! Black bear aboard!

Later that afternoon, conservation officers started recieving calls from people who was the bear on top of the truck. The bear was tranquilized and then relocated to upper Squamish Valley.

The bear is healthy and about a year-and- a-half-old. He also now has his own Twitter account (@downtown_bear).

Filed Under: Animal behavior, Animals in the news, video, Wildlife Tagged With: , , , , Leave a Comment
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