Harold Cunningham /GettyImages

We all vaguely remember Aesop’s fable about the tortoise and the hare, right? How about the rabbit and the rabbit? Doesn’t sound familiar, does it. Well, Aesop didn’t have anything to do with this one. It is an emerging sports trend in Central Europe called “rabbit hopping”.

Harold Cunningham /GettyImages

Yesterday in Wollerau, Switzerland they held the first European Rabbit Hopping championships. Lada Sipova-Krecova of Czech Republic won (that’s the owner, not the rabbit).

They’re just so damned cute!

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Daniel the Miracle Beagle

St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, seems to have made a stop in Florence, Alabama. On Oct. 3, the 785th anniversary of the saint’s death, the local animal control officer was performing the saddest duty in his job, euthanizing unwanted strays the local shelter had no room for. Until Dec. 31st, Alabama still uses carbon monoxide gas chambers to euthanize shelter animals.

When the chamber was opened, a young beagle mix walked out, scared but alive, wagging his tail. Thank you, St. Francis, for saving this one. He was unwanted, dropped anonymously in a drop box outside the pound. With an influx of 60 dogs the day before, there was no room to give him a chance.

However, shelter policy states that if an animal survives the gas chamber, they have to find a home for him (guess they don’t want to mess with divine intervention!). Dubbed “Daniel” for the biblical figure who walked out of a lion’s den, the miracle dog has a second chance.

Wednesday he was flown to New Jersey, tail wagging the whole way, where the nonprofit Eleventh Hour Rescue group have placed him into foster care and will find him a new home. His foster mom says “He’s absolutely fabulous. He walked in the house like he had always lived there. He’s very sweet, happy and outgoing.”

The group will take its time sorting through the over-100 applications to adopt Daniel to find him the right home, where he will never be dropped off as unwanted again. Their only regret, right now, is that about 50% of those applicants said they don’t want another dog if Daniel is not available.

But then, there’s the 50% who will.

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Eastern Gray Squirrel

A vicious rogue gray squirrel has been terrorizing a neighborhood in the quiet Ivy League town of Bennington, Vermont. The Bennington Banner reports that one man, Kevin McDonald was ambushed while shoveling snow and one woman is being treated for possible rabies exposure. The Vermont Public Health service, through veterinarian Robert Johnson says there has never been a report of rabies being transmitted by squirrel in Vermont.

The squirrel reportedly stalks its victims, launching itself repeatedly at innocent people going about their normal business. Johnson has speculated that the squirrel was raised as a pet and therefore is unafraid of people. Gray squirrels are territorial and will chase off other squirrels for violating tree-rights. They are also remarkably intelligent, with long-term memory capabilities akin to dolphins. Though squirrel-proof bird feeders are a large market among wildlife lovers, there really is no such thing as a feeder a squirrel can’t get at. There have also been reports of squirrels becoming dangerous when cornered while trying to defend their “ownership” of toilets.

Our neighborhood alpha-male is named Leonardo, for his habit of climbing on our garage roof, standing on his hind haunches and surveying his domain while raising his front paws in a perfect imitation of “I’m King of the World!” Thinking of squirrels as cute little rodents is naive. They are fully capable of bringing a 300-pound man to tears. My Dad never recovered from that one.

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Sometimes the Dog Days of Summer…Just Plain Stink!

Late-summer nights bring fire-works, warm breezes and in many regions of the U.S., skunks.  Pet owners may learn the hard way that letting Fido out at night can lead to many-a-smelly summer’s eves.

The most commonly suggested skunk spray remedy still remains “tomato juice bath.” However after personally trying that particular cocktail, my dog turned pink and smelled like marinara skunk sauce.

Suffice it to say, I sought other options. I ventured to the internet, where the solution to all the world’s problems exist in one link or another out there. A most interesting suggestion popped out and grabbed my attention: Douche Powder. Hmm. Two words I was familiar with, but just not together.

Before the advent of the disposable douche, companies sold boxes of individually wrapped, foil packets of douchey-powder. The mix gets poured into water and mixed into a magical, douchin’ solution. Like Crystal Light, only different.

The folks on the internet site I looked at raved about this douche powder for eliminating the skunk stank on their pets. The stuff is hard to come by though!  Manufacturers all but stopped producing this form of feminine, and apparently canine, hygiene in the late 1980s.  However, hit enough pharmacies in town and douche powder can be found. Just be prepared for quite a few attempts, because as all technologies advance, so does the douche. Walking into Walgreens or Duane Read and asking for Douche Powder is like walking into Best Buy and asking for an 8-Track Player.

Recently, my dog suffered 3 sprayings in 2 weeks. That meant a return trip to the same store for more douche powder. Here’s a word of advice, whether buying just one box or repeat purchases:  Avoid eye contact with the clerk. If eye-contact is made, the massive and futile effort of the clerk trying to keep a straight face proves to be quite awkward.  Also, don’t place the giant box of douche powder on the counter and announce, “It’s for my dog!”  Nobody will believe that your dog has that not-so-fresh-feeling. Silence truly is golden at times.

The good news though? The end result is worth any extra leg work and embarrassment. The douche powder mixed in some bath water works wonderfully to remove skunk scent from a cat or dog. So when in doubt, break that douche powder out.

For more Ellen Moschetto, check her out @ http://ellenmoschetto.com/ or on Facebook @ facebook.com/ellen.moschetto

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Here is Joppa’s link:
http://www.wetv.com/pictureperfectpet/profile.php/2834/

Cyndi Wiley lives in the cornfields of Iowa, owns a graphic design studio, and is a volunteer extraordinaire and social media junkie. You can find her main site, Studio3b on the web here.

They are like our children. If you don’t have kids they are you and if you have kids their the adopted child. I am pretty sure that all of the lezs that I know have dogs.

If you are thinking about getting gift and can’t seem to think of the perfect one, what about a dog (or cat). The shelters are overwhelmed with animals right now. Families are losing their homes left and right and are moving to places that don’t accept pets. People still don’t spay or neuter their animals and then we have puppies, while cute, most of them are going to the shelters or pounds.

We have been thinking about getting a new dog lately and have been checking out the shelters. We have one dog who is 3 years old and is a nervous dog and we didn’t know if it would be better for her to have a friend. She is a great dog and wouldn’t trade her for anything. She is trained but could use a refresh course. The picture above is her. Our son loves her very much and she definitely loves her family.

Here is what I like about the shelters:

1. You Save Money (See below).
2. The pets are already spayed or neutered.
3. They are up-to-date on their shots.
4. You are helping an animal that needs a good home.
5. They have websites that yu can check out and see their adoptable pets.
6. Some pets are already microchipped!
7. You get a good animal.

A search of human society or dog rescue shelters works great.

*Arizona Residents: http://www.azhumane.org

Please, If you are thinking of getting a new animal this holiday season, check out your local shelter and get an animal that wants a good loving home.

Jess is from Arizona, is happily married, and is a proud mom of an adorable son. For more about her check out www.2moms2kids.com.