Great Pet Net

This eight year old Bichon Frise is grinning for a reason. He outsmarted the contest coordinators for the 15th annual World Pie Eating Contest in Wigan, Lancashire, England and ate all the pies! The specially prepared pies were entrusted to the previous year’s winner, Dave Williams, for safe keeping the day prior to the contest. Dave got distracted by a bird in his chimney while stashing the pies in his refrigerator and left the door ajar. Charlie took advantage of the situation and when Dave returned the pies were gone! A deeply embarrassed Dave had to report Charlie’s mischief to Wigan Pies, the sponsor of the contest. Not to be outdone by a dog, the proud folks at Wigan worked through the night to replace all the pies. It is safe to assume that Charlie was locked out of the kitchen that night! Read the full story here.

Story and photos from Sky News.

From True Stories of Hero Pets | Pet Life | Reader’s Digest

Cashew, my 14-year-old yellow Lab, is blind and deaf. Her best friend is Libby, 7, her seeing-eye cat. Libby steers Cashew away from obstacles and leads her to her food. Every night she sleeps next to her. The only time they’re apart is when we take Cashew out for a walk. Without this cat, we know Cashew would be lost and very, very lonely indeed. It’s amazing but true: This is one animal who knows what needs to be done and does it day in and day out for her friend.
– Submitted to Reader’s Digest by Terry B., Middleburg, Pennsylvania

This beautiful kitten is graceful and athletic in this great photo by by Peter Hasselbom on Flickr.

David St. Lawrence describes some unusual behavior by two pairs of cats that didn’t know each other until recently. The social behavior of cats can be very interesting.

Gretchen and I were trimming our female cat’s claws. This is not major surgery, nor is it painful, but Buffy is well-skilled at playing the victim card. After the first few seconds, she gave out an outraged squall that sounded like the sound track of a horror movie. I was holding Buffy and splaying her paws while Gretchen was doing the actual clipping. I might add here that Gretchen was only clipping the very extremities of the claws, where they were curling back on themselves from lack of wear.

Continue reading at this link: Our cats are exhibiting “tribal” behaviour

I grew up with an Airedale in Virginia, back when it snowed quite often. This picture brings back great memories of riding a sled down a steep hill and being chased by Ginger, our Airedale. Airedales love cold weather and suffer in heat and humidity.

Photo by North Pith on Flickr Emma in white face on Flickr

Role reversal in car. I think it’s funnyl

YouTube - Dog Drives Car

Here’s a story by Meredith’s mother:

There is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays In your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God

According to her mother, Meredith was comforted by the book and letter and was unastounded that God saw fit to write back. “She wasn’t surprised because she had such faith that her letter was going to get to God.” (The oldest of the Scrivener children, 6-year-old Andy, was impressed, though: He “thought it was pretty special his sister got a book from the angel,” says his mum.)

While Mrs. Scrivener considered asking at the post office about the package, she decided against it. “I kind of like not knowing,” she said. “I don’t know who took the time to do it, but it was an angel. We all think about doing these things, but no one takes the time to do it.”

Note: This story has been verified as true by Snopes.com

via Joanne Starodub

Popeye, a blind cat rescued from Lebannon, is a wonderful example of determination and spunk. He can only see shapes and shadows with his right eye and he is completely blind in his left. Yet, he hasn’t given up his playful side. Popeye found a way to master this toy and actually snag the ball. He is a great example for all of us. Limitations? What limitations?! Read Popeye’s entire story here.

Popeye lives at the Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary along with many other amazing animals with special needs. The folks at Rolling Dog sure have big hearts.

This photo of Zazzle, a two year old Border Collie, won the Best In Show of Dogster’s World’s Coolest Cat and Dog Show 2007. Great shot!

My favorite past time during Monkey Hour is to climb on top of the door, flip over and hang upside down from the door frame. Na na na na na Bat Cat!

Supercat, Pixel May, won Caster.com’s World’s Coolest Cat Contest 2007 for the best Daredevil cat. Looks like she deserves it!