i Still Love Dogs

Thanksgiving TV for Dog Lovers

Click here for Thanksgiving 2015 dog-themed shows to watch.

If you love turkeys, Thanksgiving is probably not a very good day for you. But if you love dogs like I do, you’re in luck! Canines will be featured in two specials on Thanksgiving day, and a brand-new pet adoption special (featuring the lovely Betty White!) will debut during the evening.

Here’s the 4 (paws)-1-1 on these three shows.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s these two giant dog balloons in the 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Finn & Jake — Look for Finn riding his magical dog, Jake, from the Cartoon Network series “Adventure Time.” It’s their second appearance in the parade.
Snoopy — The beloved “Peanuts” pooch is making his 38th appearance in the parade. In fact, Snoopy holds the parade record for the most appearances by a character. Take that, Underdog (who is not appearing in the parade this year, by the way).

NBC, 9 a.m. to noon in all time zones

The National Dog Show

Don’t touch that dial! Immediately after the parade, NBC will air “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.”

Two breeds are making their debut this year: the Coton du Tulear and Wirehaired Vizla. These two breeds will also compete for the first time in the 2015 Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Dog Show.

Unlike the two-night WKC Dog Show telecast, the two-hour National Dog Show special won’t include every recognized breed, so don’t be disappointed if your favorites don’t appear. Sponsored by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the competition was actually taped earlier this month. It’s being co-hosted for the 13th time by John O’Hurley and canine expert David Frei.

And remember, whether you’re thinking about getting a purebred or a good ol’ mutt — adopt, don’t shop!

NBC, noon to 2 p.m. in all time zones

FOX’s Cause for Paws

Thanksgiving night, Jane Lynch and Hilary Swank are co-hosting the first-ever pet adoption special, “FOX’s Cause for Paws: An All-Star Dog Spectacular.”

In what will hopefully become as traditional as a slice of pumpkin pie after dinner, the special will be a celebration of rescue dogs. Celebrities scheduled to appear include Betty White, P!nk, Josh Duhamel, Kathy Griffin and many more.

Viewers will be provided with information about adoptable dogs in their area as well as a toll-free number to call to donate to the Petfinder Foundation, which supports shelters and rescue groups across the country.

FOX, 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT

Photo via Facebook

Good Cops! Columbus Officers Adopt the Puppies They Saved

With so many stories in the news about trigger-happy cops shooting people — and dogs — it’s good to know that there are plenty of compassionate police officers in this country.

Two such officers are Kelly Shay and Rodger Nolan of the Columbus Police Department (CPD) in Ohio. Both of them recently went out of their ways to help puppies instead of harm them. Bravo to these heroes!

Officer Kelly Shay Saves ‘Oscar’ from Trash Can and Adopts Him

While Kelly Shay was on patrol in May, a woman flagged her down. She said she had seen a man dump a puppy in a trash can near an elementary school.

Shay pulled the puppy out of the trash. His right front leg appeared to be broken.

“Ofr. Shay took him in her arms, [and] got a rescue to cover his medical bills,” according to the Columbus Division of Police Facebook page.

Shay became the puppy’s foster mom as he recovered. She named him Oscar — after the Sesame Street resident who lives in a trash can.

“Well, we are happy to tell you after fostering him and helping him post-surgery, Ofr. Shay adopted Oscar!!!” the CPD reported Nov. 10. (Hooray for foster fails!)

Oscar “has brought so much joy to us,” Shay said, adding, “He is FINALLY backing off of chasing our cat!”

Officer Rodger Nolan Pulls Pup from Wreck and Becomes His Dog Dad

“ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER CPD OFFICER RESCUES & ADOPTS A PUPPY!” says a Columbus Division of Police Facebook page update on Nov. 21.

Earlier this month, Officer Rodger Nolan was at the scene of a bad car accident on the east side of Columbus. Trapped inside the wreckage was a 4-month-old, mixed-breed puppy. Nolan managed to pull her out to safety. For unknown reasons, the puppy’s owner decided to surrender her.

“Officer Nolan fell in love with her instantly,” according to the CPD.

Nolan later managed to talk his wife into going with him to the Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center, where the pup had been taken. There they officially became the four-legged crash survivor’s new pet parents.

The pup, who they named Camden, is already becoming BFFs with the Nolans’ other two dogs, a Great Dane named Shea and Boxer named Wrigley.

Photos via Facebook

HT The Columbus Dispatch

Thanks to Public Outcry, Louisiana Town Puts New Breed Ban on Hold

When the news spread over the weekend that Moreauville, La., officials had voted to ban all Pit Bulls and Rottweilers — and destroy any of these dogs who weren’t relocated by Dec. 1 — the backlash was immediate.

More than 215,000 people have signed a MoveOn.org petition asking officials to end the ban. It was started by Joanna Armand, whose Pit Bull, Zeus, acts as an unofficial therapy dog for her daughter, O’Hara Owens, who has severe neck problems.

Armand also created the Saving Zeus community page on Facebook, which has more than 30,000 “likes.”

Moreauville alderman Penn Lemoine told KALB Friday that if the public outcry against the ban was strong enough, it might be dropped.

He was true to his word. The Times-Picayune reported today that Lemoine said a special meeting will be held by Moreauville’s three aldermen and mayor to address the ban, which will likely be ended.

“It was a mistake,” Lemoine admitted. “And it’s got to be redone and reworded. And this Dec. 1 date is not going to happen.”

The ban was enacted because “vicious” Pit Bulls and Rottweilers were running in the streets, according to a letter sent to residents owning these breeds. Lemoine told KALB there had been dog attacks, although he said he didn’t know of any documented cases.

“We’ll get legal council to help us formulate something that’s going to try to keep the dogs off the street,” he told the Times-Picayune today.

Breed-specific legislation (BSL), which includes bans like these, is legal in some states, including Louisiana. But because it is so unfair — not to mention costly to enforce and proven to be ineffective in increasing public safety — it is opposed by President Obama and virtually all major animal welfare organizations: the ASPCA, AVMA, HSUS, etc., etc.

For these reasons, the trend has been to repeal useless bans instead of create them. For example, just last week a ban that had been enacted since 2004 in Pawtucket, R.I., was lifted by a superior court judge. About 100 happy Pit Bulls and their pet parents marched in a parade Saturday to celebrate.

Photo via Facebook

New Breed Ban Means Louisiana Family Must Give Up Dog or Else

Zeus acts as an unofficial therapy dog for his owner, O’hara Owens of Moreauville, La., who has neck problems and must use a wheelchair.

“I can sit here if I’m in pain. He comes up there and he notices it before I even make any noise,” Owens told KALB.

But Owens and her family may soon have to say goodbye to Zeus, who happens to be a Pit Bull. At a town council meeting in October, Moreauville officials voted to ban the breed, as well as Rottweilers, because they are “vicious.”

According to a letter sent to owners of these two breeds, they must re-home their beloved pets by Dec. 1. Otherwise the dogs will be taken away for “further disposition,” meaning they will be killed.

(Appalled? A similar ban in Denver has been in effect since 1989. Thousands of Pit Bulls — many of them family pets — have been killed since then.)

Owens told KALB she has never had trouble with Zeus. “The breed is not vicious. It’s the owner,” she said. “It is the way that you raise them.”

She added that she will fight to keep her beloved dog. “Like I told them, they’re going to have to take him from my cold, dead hands before they get a hold of him.”

Moreauville alderman Penn Lemoine told KALB there have been dog attacks in the town, “but I don’t think they’re documented. We had several residents that were complaining about not being able to walk along the neighborhoods because these dogs were basically running along town.”

Lemoine, who has a German Shepherd, said the ban, as well as Moreauville’s plan to kill Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, are perfectly legal.

Lemoine did say that if the public outcry against the ban is strong enough, it may be reconsidered.

A Moveon.org petition asking Moreauville officials to drop the ban has nearly 50,000 signatures as of late Saturday afternoon — that’s quite a public outcry.

“This is amazing y’all!!!” Owens wrote earlier today on the Saving Zeus community page she created on Facebook (which currently has more than 11,000 “likes”).

“I’m reading comments and yes, I must admit the amazing support and words of encouragement have turned the waterworks on! I’ve now gone from a roll of toilet paper to a towel! Ya’ll rock and as the voice for Zeus we love ya’ll.”

The next Moreauville council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8. To sign the petition, click here.

Photo via Facebook

CNN Hero of the Year Pen Farthing Reunites Soldiers with Strays

Congratulations to Pen Farthing, who has been named CNN’s 2014 Hero of the Year.

A former Royal Marine sergeant, Farthing is the founder of Nowzad Dogs, a non-profit that reunites soldiers with the stray dogs and cats they cared for while serving in Afghanistan. The organization also built the first-ever official shelter for strays in that country.

“There is no stronger bond between man and dog than that formed during war,” Farthing said at the awards ceremony Tuesday.

After Farthing helped to break up a dog fight in Nowzad eight years ago, one of the dogs followed him back to his base. Farthing took the stray in and named him after the town. The two formed a close bond, which was almost broken the following year when Farthing’s tour of duty ended. He faced many challenges trying to transport Nowzad from Afghanistan to his home in England.

Farthing started Nowzad Dogs in 2007 to help smooth the process for other soldiers who wanted to provide forever homes for the strays they’d adopted. Nearly 700 happy reunions have taken place since then.

“Speaking from my own experience, I know that the dog I looked after was my saving grace from the stress of conflict,” Farthing said. “And because of that initial bond, the work goes on: reuniting soldiers with their companions, tackling rabies and training veterinarians in Kabul.”

CNN Heroes honors “everyday people making extraordinary efforts to change the world,” according to the network. The top 10 heroes are nominated by viewers, who also vote for the Hero of the Year winner. Each of the finalists receives $25,000 for their cause. As the Hero of the Year, Farthing will be awarded an additional $100,000 for Nowzad Dogs.

“I would like to thank everybody for their support,” Farthing said at the ceremony. “We’re making a difference for the Afghan people, the soldiers, and one dog and cat at a time.”

“CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” will air on CNN Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET.

Photos via Facebook