Merry Murphy Pet Sitters

Dog Ate My Checks ! Says Washington Woman

The AP is reporting a woman in trouble with her ex-husband and detectives for bleeding her ex's checking account for odds and ends type bills. The accused Washington woman first told her ex-husband that her dog got into her purse,ate her checks, which in turn gave her no choice but to take the money.

wrongfully accused dog 

Pabst Wins World's Ugliest Dog Contest

I don't know if Pabst, the pug with the under-bite, is pleased with winning this contest, but surely his owner is.  Miles Egstad of Citrus Heights,Ca. won the contest held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. Pabst unseated the former champion, Rascal.

Pabst got $1600. bucks,pet supplies, and a modeling contract with House of Dog.

Pabst now holds the title to the World's Ugliest Dog.

More People Giving Human Names to Dogs and Cats

Channel 9 News in Charlotte,N.C. reports more people are giving human names to their dogs and cats.

I'm not surprized to learn that since my dogs are named Murphy and Sadie. In fact, "Sadie" is in the nation's top ten names for dogs. Here is the list of top names:

Top 10 dogs names:

Max

Buddy

Molly

Maggie

Jake

Daisy

Lucy

Rocky

Bailey

Sadie

Top 10 Cat Names

Max

Tigger

Tiger

Chloe

Smokey

Lucy

Cleo

Princess

Oliver

Simba    

To learn more about this trend go here.

America Considers Their Pets Members of the Family

The L.A.Times is reporting  a poll conducted by the A.P. and Petside.com that shows just how much American's love their pets and consider them bona-fide members in 50% of families that have them. That's good news for all of us, but it's not a shocker.

Here are the poll results according to the LAT:

The poll results, released Tuesday, showed that 50% of pet owners viewed their animal friends as full-fledged family members. (An additional 36% saw their pets as part of the family, of a sort, but not as full family members.)

Women, especially single women, were more likely than men to consider their pet a member of the family: 66% of single women reported feeling that way, compared with 52% of single men, and 46% of married women and 43% of married men considered their pet a family member.

Humane Society Gives Reasons to Hire Pet Sitters

Here are some reasons from the United states Humane Society to consider in hiring a pet sitter:

Why hire a pet sitter?

A pet sitter—a professional, qualified individual paid to care for your pet—offers both you and your pet many benefits.

Your pet gets:

• the environment he knows best.

• his regular diet and routine.

• relief from traveling to and staying in an unfamiliar place with other animals (such as a boarding kennel).

• attention while you're away.

You get:

• happier friends and neighbors, who aren't burdened with caring for your pet.

• the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your pet is being cared for by a professional.

• someone to bring in your newspaper and mail so potential burglars don't know you're away.

• someone who will come to your home so you don't have to drive your pet to a boarding kennel.

• other services provided by most pet sitters, such as plant watering and pet grooming.

Dog Killer In Seattle Turns Himself In

from the Seattle Times

A man suspected of shooting his dog and leaving it to die in North Bend has turned himself in after authorities received several tips about his identity.

The man acknowledged that he tried to kill the 4-year-old Rottweiler because the animal wouldn't behave and he couldn't afford paying a veterinarian to euthanize the animal, according to King County Animal Care and Control. The dog was found tied to a log about 20 feet down an embankment in an area popular for recreational shooting.