MetaFilter posts tagged with pets

Cat ladies are sadder and scarier than you think

Cool Papa Bell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:44:11 -0800

"What's the deal with cat ladies?" asks an article. Maybe you saw the TV show, which could be "the grossest footage" on TV. Gross indeed, but read the studies from the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium, or watch the documentary, and maybe you'll want to visit the little old lady that lives down the street and see if she's OK.

Article about the environmental impact of pets.

Neekee — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:51:37 -0800

Should owning a great dane make you as much of an eco-outcast as an SUV driver? Yes it should, say Robert and Brenda Vale. Article about the environmental impact of pets.

Noble and magnificent creatures of the animal kingdom... humiliated again for our amusement. Yay!

taz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:08:39 -0800

The New Yorker's "Critterati" contest invites you to "take a picture of your pet—dog, cat, ferret, iguana, or any other nonhuman member of the animal kingdom—dressed as a character from literature, and upload it to newyorker.com by October 25th." Gallery | About | Rules | Enter. MetaFilter's own Jessamyn happens to be a judge (so well-dressed chicken entries might just have an edge, amirite?). "There will be up to 5 winners. Winning submissions, along with the creator's name, will be featured in a slideshow on www.newyorker.com and each winner will receive a signed copy of the book 'Indognito'.” The contest is only open to U.S. and Canadian residents (except Quebec), sadly, but the rest of us can still enjoy the hilarious discomfiture of other people's pets dressed up like Hairy Potter, Oedipuss, Huckleberry Fins and Miss Havishamster.

Respectfully yours

amelioration — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:45:22 -0800

Respect Your Pet has launched with a mission of tracking down those individuals who mistreat and humiliate their pets with such tools as creative grooming and silly photography. Their "about" page hints at one reason this is such an important cause for the couple that started the site. The site may seem like it must be a joke, but one founder swears "my website is not a joke."

Get a dog, save on your taxes?

lovermont — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:29:32 -0800

On July 31 of this year, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) introduced H.R. 3501, a bill aimed at granting tax deductions to owners of companion animals. Known as the HAPPY Act — Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years — it would create a deduction of up to $3,500 on federal tax returns for the care of "qualified" pets, defined as "legally owned, domesticated, and live animals." As of yet, there are no co-sponsors. So did McCotter introduce the bill due to being a genuine supporter of animal protections, or is this one Republican's way of trying to ensure taxpayers get to keep more of their money? Either way, the ASPCA approves, as do actors Leo Grillo and Robert Davi. via

Extreme Poodle Grooming Craze

k8t — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:06:48 -0800

People are dying and grooming their poodles to look like panda bears, camels, and bison. Seriously. I apologize for the SL, but this is too weird not to share. Here's another link or two.

as a thief in the night

plexi — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:42:21 -0800

You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind?
Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind.

I can haz ladder?

kimdog — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:20:48 -0800

Cat-ladders around the world. 110 towns in 22 different countries. Cat's demands on their owners know no borders.

Toronto Humane Society: one out of three is pretty damn bad

maudlin — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:38:24 -0800

At the Toronto Humane Society, veterinarians say animals die suffering unnecessarily in their cages while pleas to euthanize them are dismissed. Dozens of staff, volunteers and veterinarians have quit in protest. ... A note written by a staff member or volunteer on the medical chart of a cat, animal ID A127495, admitted last fall, reads: "Died Oct 19 3:15 am. Gasped and jerked and cried last breaths, because there was no one in shelter to euthanize or treat. This is not humane." ... [THS president] Mr. Trow says he strives to keep euthanasia rates low for ethical reasons. “How can anyone suggest that, because he might be here longer than anyone would want, that it's better to put [a dog] down?” Mr. Trow asked. “I think that's a strange suggestion, don't you? You live here as long as you can.” Images (yes, they're disturbing.) Video of a puppy adopted out with a broken leg. The THS web site. Mr. Trow maintains that the THS does not have a no-kill policy and denies that the shelter's veterinarians are influenced in their decisions whether or not to euthanize. “There's no pressure on anyone to do anything or not to do anything other than on professionals, professional doctors and professional nurses, to do the best they can,” he said. By law, it is a requirement for veterinarians employed by humane societies to have language in their contract that makes them responsible for all decisions relating to the care of animals. “I couldn't work at the Toronto Humane Society any longer because it violated my professional oath as a veterinarian,” said Johanna MacNaughton, a veterinarian who resigned in April. ... “I would never make a euthanasia decision without great consideration, and I would only euthanize an animal if it was suffering with no chance of recovery,” said Dr. MacNaughton. And an internal memo obtained by The Globe confirms that euthanasia decisions must be cleared by management, many of whom have no medical training.

love, charlie

Joe Beese — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:47:00 -0800

Charlie plays. Charlie explores. Charlie bites. Charlie relaxes. Charlie sleeps. Charlie loves. love, charlie ran from July 12, 2003 to January 1, 2008. Charlie occasionally visits here.

Only Coon Hounds Are Allowed To Be Buried

netbros — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:38:53 -0800

American Houndsman is a site dedicated to showcasing vintage hound hunting. Back when hunters didn't have all the fancy equipment and gadgets of today, it was a time that hunting was simple. Fetch the dogs, the light, and the gun and off to the woods for a night's hunt. Features vintage photographs of beloved coon dawgs, even the ones still learning, and stories of hunting dogs in days gone by. There's even a coon dog cemetery where the best of the best are laid to rest. A group of solemn men, dressed in black mourning coats and hip boots, wearing carbide lamps on their heads stood beside a mound of soil and a freshly dug hole. A hunting horn sounded and the bay of hounds filled the air. Four similarly dressed men walked slowly toward the gathered crowd, a small wooden box carried between them. When the box was lowered into the ground one of the men spoke The Coon Dog Eulogy. He spoke with tears of fifteen years, how his dog and him traveled about His dog up and died, he up and died After twenty years he still grieves -- "Mr. Bojangles," by Jerry Jeff Walker

"In all the annals of dogdom there has never been anything his equal."

amyms — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:41:23 -0800

Jim, The Wonder Dog. During the height of the Great Depression, a "plain black and white setter" entertained and mystified the citizens of Missouri with his "extraordinary cleverness" and his seemingly inexplicable ability to foretell the future. Jim The Wonder Dog Memorial Park A visit to Jim's gravesite (before the Memorial Park was built) "Jim, go to the girl with the red dress on." An official Jim The Wonder Dog site (mostly geared toward selling memorabilia)

Not Your Mama's LOL Catz

Secret Life of Gravy — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:37:05 -0800

The title says it all: Pets Who Want To Kill Themselves.

Dogz Rule

netbros — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:56:23 -0800

Woof Report has a litter of pup-perfect ideas, dog care tips, products, and more. Think of it as your daily dose of doggie delight. Woof Report works to promote awareness of animal welfare causes, pet adoption initiatives and charities.

When Polly is in Charge

davidstandaford — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:19:10 -0800

"The animals all think he's Margaret when he speaks. He loves ordering them around and commanding them – it's very surprising. He's not frightened or scared of them at all."

"Parrot mimics owner's voice to boss around her other pets "

In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.

blue_beetle — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:04:31 -0800

The Dog Files is a website and video podcast about dogs and the people that love them.

the doggy in the window

Brian B. — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:59:00 -0800

Amish puppy mills, outrage and controversy.

Dogs in Wigs

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:11:20 -0800

Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
This is a little weird.
Mouseover text for more info.

Wigkitties!

Kronos_to_Earth — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:12:32 -0800

A flipside of Kitty Wigs^TM, for the stylish kitty - pointed out previously - is available for the stylish kitty owner!

Wash Your Weave, Brush Your Bong

netbros — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:50:55 -0800

How To Clean Stuff. From kitchen and bath, to flooring and carpets. Indoors, outdoors, your car, dog, colon and bong. More than 800 cleaning tips in all. Submit your best ideas. Each one that gets published, the site will contribute to the Clean Water Fund.

Giving a sour surprise to your trusting dependent

2bucksplus — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:41:39 -0800

Your daily recommended allowance of YouTube: Trusting baby tries a lemon / Wary baby given a lime / Two dogs try a lemon / Lime makes dog crazy / (Some guidelines for your baby and fruit) (Some fruits you should never give your dog)

Charley

homunculus — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:48:07 -0800

This Is Charley. Charley is a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia.

Would you like a mint? They're wafer thin.

onlyconnect — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:15:06 -0800

Have you ever wondered how much a hamster can store in his cheeks without exploding? Smoke will show you. (Single link YouTube post)

not really your friend

plexi — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:31:44 -0800

How to wash a cat. Step #1: Dress for the occasion - a four-ply wet suit is suggested, with gloves and a face mask.

Working Cats in NYC

milquetoast — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:42:22 -0800

Working Class Cats documents the lives of gainfully employed felines in NYC. There is, of course, some controversy. [via]