Horses available at Pauls Valley adoption center

When you’re driving along Interstate 35 near Pauls Valley, take a peek at the horse heard on the western side of the highway. Those are all animals pulled off the Western plains and offered for adoption. The wild horse adoption center in Pauls Valley is hosting an adoption event tomorrow. Here’s a quick video or you can read the full story here.


Don’t give LSD to your dog

So apparently this Georgia couple used LSD and ran through their neighborhood naked. The sad part: their dog got out of the house and was hit by a car. The couple told police they gave the dog, Oscar, some LSD, too, but later said that wasn’t true. I just love their line of thinking:

Taking LSD? Sure.

Running naked through the neighborhood? Of course.

Giving LSD to your dog? Now that would just be wrong.


Weimaraner Rescue hosting 5k

One of our dogs would love this. One would sit down in the grass and not move. If you’re dog’s a runner, here’s some information about a 5k coming up Sunday:

Heartland Weimaraner Rescue, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue, will host their second annual ‘Ghost Runners 5K Dog Run’ at Lake Hefner’s Star and Stripes Park on October 30, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. This is Heartland’s premier fundraising event for the year, and is the only timed and sanctioned race in the state of Oklahoma to be run with dogs. It is a USATF certified course and will be digitally timed by DG Productions.

Participants are encouraged to bring their dog to the event and will be allowed to complete the entire run with them as long as they are leashed and runner-friendly. Heartland will allow one dog per participant, and requires that all dogs be on leashes at all times, current on vaccinations, not be in heat, and not be aggressive.

Registration for the race will be open until 1:30 p.m. on race day. Runners can register online at www.GhostRunner5k.com for $25, or on race day at the Stars and Stripes park pavilion from noon – 1:30 p.m. Race day registration will be $30. As of Friday, October 21st, there were nearly 300 runners registered for the event and Heartland expects to have approximately 375 by race day.

Heartland will be hosting two packet pick up days for those runners who register early. The first pick up will be at A1 Pet Emporium, 9417 N. May in Oklahoma City, on October 28 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The second pick up will be at Best Feet Forward on October 29 from noon – 3 p.m. Best Feet Forward is located at 7431 N. May in Oklahoma City.

Race day booths and entertainment will be open and free to the public from noon – 5 p.m. Food and beverages, along with a kid’s fun zone will also be set up near the pavilion.

Money raised from the Ghost Runners 5K Dog Run will be used to assist Heartland with medical and foster expenses for dogs in the program.

To participate, volunteer, or become a sponsor please contact Traci Steelman at 405-306-4603, by email at heartlandweimrescueok@yahoo.com, or visit the HWR race website at www.GhostRunners5k.com.


Pumpkin eating at the Oklahoma City Zoo

For the next two weekends, animals at the Oklahoma City Zoo will enjoy some Halloween-themed treats. It’s free to check out these animal feedings with admission. The pumpkin chompin’ will be Saturdays and Sundays. Here’s the schedule:

SATURDAYS:

10:30 a.m. African Wild Dogs (Wild Dog Drive)

11:00 a.m. Children’s Zoo (Barnyard)

1:15 p.m. Elephant Behavioral Presentation (Elephant Pavilion)

1:30 p.m. Andean Condor & Harpy Eagle (across from picnic pavilions)

1:30 p.m. Great Apes (Great EscApe Building)

2:00 p.m. Upper Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)

2:30 p.m. River Otters (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Sea Lion Habitat (Noble Aquatic Center)

3:30 p.m. Indian Rhino

4:00 p.m. Alligators (Oklahoma Trails)

SUNDAYS:

10:30 a.m. Giraffes

11:00 a.m. Children’s Zoo (Underground)

11:30 a.m. Galapagos Tortoise (Island Life)

1:15 p.m. Elephant Behavioral Presentation (Elephant Pavilion)

1:30 p.m. Andean Condor & Harpy Eagle (across from picnic pavilions)

1:30 p.m. Great Apes (Great EscApe Building)

2:00 p.m. Lower Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)

2:30 p.m. River Otters (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears (Oklahoma Trails)

3:00 p.m. Sea Lion Habitat (Noble Aquatic Center)

3:30 p.m. Indian Rhino

4:00 p.m. Turkey Vulture (Oklahoma Trails Aviary)


In case of rapture, please feed my dogs

I am so excited. I’ve been waiting for months to write about this: how people plan to take care of their pets after the rapture. Is there a company for that? You better believe it. Click here to read my column. Here are the first few paragraphs:

I’m pretty sure my dogs will do the same things before and after the rapture.

One will be napping and the other will be trying to sneak off to chew one of my shoes.

I’m not sure how the rapture would go down, but I imagine rivers of lava dotted with drifting boulders. My old dog would be asleep on his dog bed on one of those boulders. The young dog would leapfrog away with one of my flip-flops in her mouth.

I guess that’s what they’ll be doing Saturday morning.

The world’s ending Friday, you know. True story.


Humane Society tries to break adoption record

This dog needs a home. Yes, this one right here. And do you know what his name is? Banana. I know. So adorable. Here’s a story I wrote about a massive adoption event that kicks off at midnight TONIGHT!

EDMOND — The Central Oklahoma Humane Society will host a weekend adoption event with a goal of finding homes for more than 550 dogs and cats.

The Midnight Woofness Mega Adoption Event begins at midnight Friday and runs through 5 p.m. Sunday outside of PetSmart, 1921 S Broadway.

More than 600 puppies, kittens, dogs and cats will be available, and hundreds of volunteers will work at the event. Adoption fees start at $10 and include vaccinations, deworming and spaying/neutering.

The event is sponsored by PetSmart Charities.


Norman Police Department police dog dies

Sad news out of Norman today. Here’s a preses release from the Norman Police Department:

On Saturday September 10th, 2011, Norman Police canine, Pablo, died suddenly from natural causes. Pablo was a commissioned 8 year old German Shepard Norman police dog. Pablo and his handler, Sergeant Kellee Robertson, were assigned to the Special Investigations Division as a drug interdiction team. Throughout his career Pablo was responsible for the seizure of 3.54 pounds of cocaine, 42.7 grams of crack cocaine, 301.5 pounds of marijuana, 3.66 pounds of methamphetamine , and $272,886 us currency. Street value of the drugs is $323,770.00. Pablo was a very social dog and in addition to his interdiction duties, he was our lead canine for community interaction. Pablo performed many demonstrations to school children throughout the community as well as Leadership Norman and Tomorrow’s Leaders. A memorial service for Pablo will be planned in the near future.


A pug sings the Batman theme

Yes.


Pets in the paper: flying kites

Checks out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today:


Snakes and spiders and lizards, oh my!

As most of my friends know, I have quite the collection of pets. Unlike my co-author on this blog, Carrie, dogs are not my only exprience with pet ownership.

This is thanks mostly to my lovely wife, Sarah, who brought to our relationship a blue and gold macaw named Melvin and various other small birds. I also bought Sarah a cat as a birthday gift a little over a year ago. In addition to our three dogs, one cat, Melvin the macaw and various small birds, we also own a collection of reptiles.

Elizabeth the bearded dragon

I’ve always been interested in reptiles, but Sarah was a true enthusiast, and we soon began keeping snakes. We have some little milk snakes, but my favorite reptiles are our lizards. I have always wanted a bearded dragon, and we got one a few months ago, along with some leopard geckos.

Our most recent additions came last weekend at the Oklahoma Herpetological Society’s reptile show. We bought a male mate for my female bearded dragon. Their names are Elizabeth and Andy. We also got a second breeding group of leopard geckos.

These shows are a must for anyone who has in interest in exotic animals. In addition to lizards and snakes, you can find various turtles, frogs, tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes, and most of the other little critters that often make people squirm.

Reptiles certainly aren’t the most common or popular type of pet, but I would encourage everyone to give them a chance, particularly the lizards. Bearded dragons and leopard geckos have a lot of personality and are a lot of fun. The main thing to consider when buying a reptile is to do your homework and know what you are getting into.

Happy (top) and Poseidon the leopard geckos

Large snakes aren’t for everyone and can be dangerous to those who don’t know how to handle them. Stay away from large pythons, paricularly the reticulated, Burmese and African rock pythons, unless you are an experienced snake keeper. Ball pythons, corn snakes and milk snakes can be good pets and require a fraction of the work of dogs, cats and small mammals like hamsters.

Iguanas are also a handful and should not be taken on by those who don’t have the means to care for them property. They need huge enclosures, expensive ultraviolet lighting and can be a bit cranky if not socialized. Leopard geckos and bearded dragons are a better choice for someone looking to take on their first reptile. They need a heating lamp or pad, and a few feeder bugs at least twice a week, but they are harmless, do well being handled if done with care and will keep you entertained as they cruise around their enclosure.

So don’t be a hater like Carrie. Give the creepy crawlies a chance.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean