What kind of dog is that?

Several people think that Hiesler Park and associated areas are designated as a Bird Sanctuary, I beg to differ, and it is a Dog Sanctuary. There are far more dogs than birds in the park. When I walk my dog I meet many friendly people walking their dogs and many (actually every person I met) will ask “What kind of dog is that?” (Dog people are like that) My response is he is a PitChaWinnie (Pit Bull, Chihuahua , and Dachshund (god knows what momma dog was up to)).

We all name our dogs for a variety of reasons. But naming your dog spot when he has no spots on his body raises some questions. My dog’s name is spot even though he is Brindle in coloring but we decided to name him spot because he has a lot of spots. We thought about naming him Stripes, however we have an on-going discussion about animal stripes in our household. The name Zebra did come up but we could not determine between the two of us whether, the horses where white and had black stripes or if they where a black horses with white stripes. So we decided that Spot was the best fit because he has a spot on the couch, a spot on the kitchen floor, a spot on my bed (a spot most everywhere in the house) these are the spots to nap, napping is very important for dogs and cats. So I guess it doesn’t matter where your spots are to inherit your name.

He is also a TV buff, he watches Channel 7, he knows when Regis and Kelly comes on at 9:00AM when they come on it is time to walk and he runs to his leash, whines and is ready to go.

Oprah has Dr. Oz, well we have “Dr. Dog-Ozs”. Dr. Dog-Oz has much information as to what to do for your animal to keep it healthy. We also have three “Dog Cops,” the three Animal Services Officers who care for all animals, domestic and wild, in Laguna Beach. They will cut you no slack when it comes to your care of your animal. We also have our Dog Cop (very important position)

One of these Animal Services Officers, or ASO’s, is Joy Falk. She rescues our pooches and kitties and any thing with four legs and some with fins. She is one of three full time Animal Services Officers working for the city of Laguna Beach. These three officers also serve the city of Laguna Woods also which keeps them very busy!

Officer Joy Fulk Falk commented recently when asked what the most important thing for pet owners to know for care of their animals, she answered: “There are a lot of things a good pet owner should know, but probably the first and foremost thing is to have good identification on your pet.”

“Although dogs and cats can, and should, wear collars with identification tags on at all times, they often slip off just when the pet needs them the most, when they become lost. A microchip implant is the best way to ensure that the identification stays with the pet. This chip can tell Animal Shelters, Animal Services Officers, Veterinarians, and others that this pet IS owned, and it has a home to be returned to if the pet becomes lost. These chips are also a way to, FINNALLY; identify bird’s reptiles, rabbits, and other animals which cannot wear collars.

Animal shelter across the country are full of animals who were found running loose with no identification or way to return them to their owners. Pet theft does occur, and in a few cases theft has been discovered due to a microchip. Animal shelters are also full of pets on “lost lists” where the pets are listed as “…no collar or ID,--- due to recent bath,--- due to being inside the house when it escaped out of an open door,---Due to the fact that the owners doesn’t like collars…, …or a million other reasons…”

Your pet can not speak for it’s self. Speak for him and let others know he, or she, has a loving home that wants him returned by having your pet wear a collar with an ID tag, and seriously consider microchip implants as extra insurance for your pet’s welfare.”

Dr. DogOz says vaccination neutering is a process you must do!!

Thank you to our contributions:

Joy Falk, Animal Services Officer Laguna Beach ,