A cat with thousands of years of history

Times are tough in the dog adoption business. Countryside Humane Society tells us the last dog we featured, a friendly poodle named Moon Shine, did not get adopted -- only the second time that's happened. He's been transferred to the Elmbrook Humane Society where, hopefully, he will fare better.

Unfortunately, it's not just Moon Shine, either. Racine families of late are not adopting pets: Countryside transferred five animals to other shelters on Monday, and last week sent 16 cats and kittens to other shelters, hoping to give them a second chance. The animals haven't stopped coming in, Countryside says, but they sure have stopped going out. Is it the economy? The back-to-school rush?

In any case, how about a cat this week?

Agnes came to Countryside as a stray who became ill. She had a lovely temperament, so was sent to live in foster care for 60 days, whee she got better. She loves to sit inside baskets and boxes, but gladly comes out of her comfortable place to meet new people.

She is a gentle Abyssinian/brown tabby mix, a 2- or 3-year-old ready to have a home of her own.

Abyssinians come with a fascinating backstory: Their ancestors were revered by the ancient Egyptians a few thousand years ago. In the west, the breed is traced to a single female kitten called Zula, that was taken from a port in Alexandria, Egypt, by a British soldier and brought to England, where she was bred with an English tabby. (Wiki has more, here.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyssinian_(cat)

Abyssinian cats are brown with dark brown and black ticking (sometimes red-brown). Tabby is the original coat pattern of cats and even solid color cats have tabby patterning underneath. There are different patterns of tabby: classic is big swirls of darker color in a lighter color; Mackerel is small stripes close together that run from the back down to the stomach (or, as most people call them, tiger cats). There is also ticked and spotted. All these patterns are still put under the title Tabby.

So what are you waiting for? Countryside Humane Society is located at 2706 Chicory Road, or call (262) 554-6699.

Moon Shine, of the Poodle variety

There's been a full moon this week, although no truth to reports that Mars would come out to play.

Still, while we're focused on the moon, how about some Moon Shine?

No, not that kind. Moon Shine is an adult male Poodle mix. He is an outgoing, friendly guy who would like a family that likes to go for walks with or without the moonlight. He came to the Countryside Humane Society as a stray, and they've cleaned him up -- and also fattened him up.

Oh, yes, they also gave him a cool new hairdo. All you need to supply is love.

Moon Shine, and many other animals with equally fanciful names, is available for adoption at Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Road, or call (262) 554-6699.

Racine dog show brings out best of many breeds

The Racine Kennel Club hosted 1,200 dogs Sunday during the first day of its two-day American Kennel Club All-Breed dog show, at Pershing Park. Best in show was a Smooth Fox Terrier.

On Monday, more of the same, as many of the same dogs compete once again against each other -- the only difference being a new set of judges. Two-day confirmation dog shows like this are commonplace, as dogs are judged against their breed's standards, seeking championship points. A second set of judges brings a different pair of eyes, and subjectivity. The show continues tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Here are four pictures from today's event, showing a dog trotted around the show ring, getting a quick once-over by the judge, and finally a winner ready for his closeup. At bottom is a Rhodesian Ridgeback getting his picture taken with owner and handler for posterity (and maybe breeding advertisements).

Serenity a playful Rhodesian/Belgian mix

Serenity is a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Belgian Malinois mix. If you're unfamiliar with both breeds, run to Wikipedia as we did. The Rhodesian side is, of course, indigenous to South Africa, while the Belgian half comes from you-know-where. Of more interest, perhaps, is that both breeds are shepherds..

Serenity is an energetic 10-month-old female. She needs an owner who will be firm and a consistent handler, as she is so smart she will walk on you if allowed. She will be a loyal friend to the end. She is affectionate and playful.

She's available for adoption at Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Road, or call (262) 554-6699.

UPDATE, 8/21: We're told by Countryside: "A couple as full of energy as Serenity adopted her."

Doggie Happy Hour welcomes you and your pets

And now, a word from the dog of the house:

"Oh, sure, you call me man's best friend, but when you go out to dinner, or for a drink, do you take me along?

"No, Grrrrr, you leave me locked in the bathroom! And you put the seat cover down, too. What if I get thirsty?

"Well, here's your chance to make it up to me. The really good dog owners take their pets to the Doggie Happy Hour at the Friki Tiki outdoor bar on Monday nights from 3 to 7 p.m. It's alongside the Chancery Restaurant, overlooking the marina. While you eat, they'll serve me some free milk bones. Servers even bring a water bowl for every dog (yes, even for cats!), and for those of us who prefer "people food," there's a choice of a boneless chicken breast or a hamburger pattie. Yum!

"I hear that the idea for Doggie Happy Hour came from one of the servers, who lived in Washington, DC, where dogs are allowed in many places. And you said nothing good ever came from Washington!

"So what do you say? Let's go out and have some fun and let me meet some of my friends for dinner, too. It's a great night out for both large and small dogs, and we all promise to be on our best behavior.

"Or do I have to do a number on your slippers again, when you least expect it? Just sayin'. "

Shop holds benefit for rescued Afghan hounds

Dana Goodsell and Montgomery

Isn't this a face you could love? We're talking about the Afghan hound; of course you could love Dana Goodsell!

Dana and her sister, Regan, own the Elegant Pauper gift shop downtown, which on Friday night was turned over to Montgomery, their parents' 2-year-old Afghan, who sat and slept regally on the couch while Dana and Regan ran a benefit to raise funds for Afghan hounds.

Montgomery -- he answers to "Mo-Mo" -- is a rescued Afghan. Dana discovered him 18 months ago on one of the breed's rescue websites, soon after Elliot, one of the family's two Afghans had died. "There were 30 families willing to adopt him, but I wrote a very compelling letter," Dana says, and so they were given 48 hours to come to Arkansas and claim him. Which they did, by hurriedly flying down and then renting a car to bring him home. He is the family's sixth Afghan -- and a welcome companion to 8-year-old Remington, another Afghan. ("Remington just missed Elliot so much; the second we brought Montgomery home he was so happy, his tail started wagging and it couldn't have worked out better.")

Those of us who have fallen in love with one dog breed or another can understand this attraction, even for a breed that can reach 80 pounds and likes to hog the couch, the whole couch.

But this isn't a story about Montgomery. Rather it's about 67 Afghans hounds rescued two weeks ago from their New Mexico breeder, who got sick and ran out of money. (There were also 25 exotic birds, but that's another story.) Dana and Regan wanted to raise funds to help Afghan Rescue New Mexico, which is bringing the dogs back to good health, and then hoping to find them good homes around the country.

So the girls turned Elegant Pauper over to the dogs on Friday night: There was Mo-Mo's Lemonade Stand inside the shop, with all proceeds going to help the dogs. And for a $5 donation, shoppers could receive a 15% discount on all purchases made in the shop this weekend. Dana and Regan will also share some of the funds raised with HOPE Safehouse, which finds homes for abandoned pets in Racine.

The benefit at Elegant Pauper will continue Saturday.

The Santa Fe New Mexican's story about the rescued Afghans is HERE. More on the effort to raise funds and find homes for the dogs is on the website of the Afghan Hound Club of America, which has posted pictures and web pages for many of the dogs.

Montgomery, in his place of honor at Elegant Pauper

'Secret' fund-raiser for Humane Society at Menards

Shhhh, it's secret!

Menards is having a secret fund raising event for the Countryside Humane Society. A shopper reports they are encouraging all their customers to donate bleach, laundry soap, office supplies, computer paper, gas cards, thin washable blankets, used towels and wash cloths, and gift cards to Menards.

Countryside will be "surprised" by their collections some time in August.

Tell all your two-legged friends!

Happy-go-lucky Melanie just what you need

With all that's wrong with the world -- wars, the stock market, gas prices -- how about adding some happiness to your life?

We have just the ticket: Melanie.

Melanie is a 2 1/2-year-old female Collie/German Shepherd mix. She's got a happy-go-lucky personality, is eager to please, and pretty besides.

She's available for adoption at Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Road, or call (262) 554-6699.

Countryside is full of very adoptable dogs, cats and kittens. Maybe it's time you stopped in to save one today. Add a little happiness to your own life and to a homeless pet's at the same time.

Bucket still a friendly puppy, despite mistreatment

Bucket is a 8- to 10-month-old male pit bull puppy.

He got his rather strange name when concerned citizens found him tied up on a highway with only a single bucket of water. His spirits were still good but his poor feet where in terrible shape: the hot pavement burned the pads off poor Bucket's feet. He is recovering well and does not hold anything against people even though someone treated him so poorly.

He is a happy, friendly pup, light brindle and white, who will need training and walks on soft surfaces until the skin grows all the way back on his feet.

He can be seen at Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Road, or call (262) 554-6699.

Countryside is full of very adoptable dogs, cats and kittens. Maybe it's time you stopped in to save one today.

Our last adoptable dog, Cody, a coon hound, has been adopted by a woman whose last hound died recently after 15 loving years. I'm told he now lives somewhere near me, but haven't heard him baying at the full moon yet...

Shhh, that's a coon hound calling you...

Listen closely: Can't you just hear the mournful sound of a coon hound at suppertime, that sweet-sounding Bluetick voice?

Well, if it appeals to you, as it should, then step up and meet Cody, a four-month old Bluetick Coonhound mix. He is white with black spots, full of energy and eager to please. He does have a small malformation -- a bump at the end of his tail -- but, let's face it: are you perfect?

Cody will need someone who likes to take walks, jog or is willing to teach him to play fetch, as his energy level is fairly high.

For more information, visit Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Road, or call (262) 554-6699

Last week's pet looking for a home, Tiny, the playful cross-eyed kitten, got adopted into one where she will be the spoiled addition to her young new family.

Here's lookin' at you, Tiny!

Once again, proving our ecumenical leanings here at RacinePost, our dog of the week is ... a cat!

Well, a kitten. Everybody loves kittens.

Meet Tiny, a small (Duh!) 10-week-old female domestic short hair gray kitten. Tiny was rescued by a caring person at a facility that does not do animal adoptions. When she was old enough, she was transferred to the Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Road, to find a new home.

All her brothers and sisters have been adopted, but not Tiny. Tiny has a special problem, you see ... she is cross eyed! Tiny acts like every other sweet playful kitten with the exception of her vision. She lifts her tiny head upwards and looks at you from the bottom of her eyes.

For more information, visit Countryside or call (262) 554-6699.

Our most recent dog up for adoption, Graham, has found a new home: Graham's new owners came all the way from Michigan to claim him ... a little girl with her Mom and Dad.

Graham's parents traveled far...

Considering that Pomeranians are named for the Pomerania region in Western Europe -- today part of eastern Germany and northern Poland -- and Eskimos come from Alaska... well, we might wonder how Graham's parents got together. Not to mention the fact that Pomeranians are considered a "toy" breed because of their small size, while Eskimos run quite a bit larger.

Nonetheless, meet Graham, an Eskimo/Pommeranian mix one way or another. A small to medium-sized two-year-old male, Graham is outgoing and friendly. He'd fit best in a family with children six years old or older.

He's available from the Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Road, or call (262) 554-6699.

Our previous dog looking for a home, Stewi, has found one, and will be a young man's best friend.

Got any doggie underpants?

One of the more interesting phenomena spawned by the internet are swap sites, where people with an extra this or that offer it for free to the first person to pick it up. And people who want something post their wishlist in the hope that someone will provide.

And often it comes to pass.

Racine's happenin' place for this sort of thing is RacineFreecycle, a version of which exists thanks to Yahoo in many, many cities. Membership is free; just follow the link and sign up. You can receive e-mails as soon as they are sent, or in the digest version once a day (A word to the wise: The digest won't clog your inbox as much as individuals messages will, but most of the good stuff will be gone long before you hear of it).

Today's digest is fairly typical: Offered are a couch, a fertilizer spreader, a portable dishwasher, a rug shampooer. Meanwhile, people are asking for stuff like a computer desk, a start-up disk for a computer game, a working cordless drill. "Michelle" asks for a mobility scooter for her husband, an amputee. "Megan" writes: "My husband bought me a puppy for Mother's Day, I need a medium size or small size puppy crate home for sleeping at night. Thanks."

And then there are the more unusual requests. Anybody got a deer hide lying around? "Ladysqueak313" writes: "My daughter wants to make a medicine bag and needs some tanned deer hide."

My favorite of the day: Dog underpants! "Goodnight_ansela" writes: "My mom's watching her boyfriend's dog. I should say she just went into heat so she needs some dog underpants so she doesn't make a mess. Does anyone have any of these? She's beagle size... maybe a little bit smaller, not much. PLEASE!!! We need these asap!"

Boxers or briefs?

Curly fluffball loses fight with clippers ... it'll grow back!

This week's dog up for adoption at Countryside Humane Society is a tough one. Countryside has kindly sent us before and after pictures of Pierre, a one-year-old Bichon Frise, Poodle and possibly Lhasa Apso mix.

I cannot tell a lie: I prefer the "before" version.

Pierre came in as a stray, with long, matted curly hair. He was dirty and muddy. Now he's been cleaned, shaved, fully vaccinated and neutered. And he looks terrible! IMHO.

Poor little guy. Hopefully, he'll outgrow this shaved state and be curly (and matted) again ... for you.

Pierre is an active dog, who will fit best in a family with children ages five and older.

Countryside Humane Society is located at 2706 Chicory Road. Or call (262) 554-6699.

Last week's friendly puppy, Chaz, has new owners who are thrilled with their new friend.

Lassie come home? Well, this one would like to ...

Remember Lassie? Of course you do. The distinctive (and smart!) Collie has starred in at least a dozen movies since the first in 1943 (which also featured Elizabeth Taylor), and four long-running TV series.

Not that everyone is a fan: "Lassie looked brilliant, in part because the farm family she lived with was made up of idiots. One of them was always getting pinned under the tractor, and Lassie was always rushing back to the farmhouse to alert the others. She'd whimper and tug at their sleeves, and they'd always waste precious minutes saying things like: "Do you think something's wrong? Do you think she wants us to follow her? What is it, girl?" as if this had never happened before, instead of every week."

OK, we won't ask humorist Dave Barry if he wants to adopt this lovely Collie -- ours is a male, by the way -- as were all the celluloid Lassies. Nick is 2, neutered, good with other dogs and available for all ages. His owners moved to a place where no dogs are allowed. (We can't say what we think of those places; this is a family website!)

Nick is friendly and good-natured. He likes to "talk" with grunts and grumbles, and he is housetrained. Like all Collies, he needs regular grooming.

Nick also needs an owner willing to explain to everyone who meets him that he is not Lassie. If you are that person, you can adopt Nick from the Countryside Humane Society.

If you're going to adopt a Lassie doppleganger like Nick, it will help if you know at least a little Lassie history:

1. Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Stewart, Peter O'Toole and Jeanette MacDonald also shared the stage with one or another of the many scene-stealing Lassies over the years.
2. Lassie is one of only three animals to have a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame; the others are Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart.
3. And finally, Lassie was "born" in 1938, first appearing in British-American author Eric Knight's short story Lassie Come Home published in the Saturday Evening Post.

Kennedy, last week's dog up for adoption -- a Phalène -- has found a new home!

Handsome Bryan looking for a home

Looking for a home this week is Bryan, a handsome four-month-old Labrador mix who was found as a stray. He's black with touches of white, and full of energy. He needs a committed home that will work on training. Because of his eventual size -- he should grow to about 50 pounds -- it is recommended that there be no children under the age of five in the household. He can be seen at the Countryside Humane Society.

Our last dog, William, an Alaskan Malamute perfectly suited to last week's snow, did not get adopted here, but was given a second chance at the Elmbrook Humane Society, where , we are told, he did find a new family.

Winter, what winter? Alaskan Malamute is right at home

Snow. Cold. Winter. What could be more appropriate than an Alaskan Malamute?

Yes, he loves the snow! William is a 3-year-old, 60-lb. Malamute / Collie mix; a stray brought here from Milwaukee. He's even-tempered and laid back; mostly hair, he'll need regular grooming. Because of his size, he needs a household with no children under 10 -- don't want him knocking little ones over!

He's available for adoption at the Countryside Humane Society.

UPDATE: Last week's dog, Harley, was not adopted, but will get another chance at the Elmbrook Humane Society.

Playful Harley will entertain himself -- and you

Ready to add a playful addition to your home? Consider Harley, an Aussie / Lab mix. He's five years old, already housetrained. He knows (and obeys!) "sit" and "shake," and maybe some more commands that we didn't think to try. Harley is a transfer from the Kenosha shelter, which is getting full. As you can see from the picture, he also knows how to entertain himself, by choosing his own toys from the selection available.

OR, are you more interested in having a kitten for Christmas? Countryside Humane Society has some of the cutest kittens around, just waiting for new homes. The shelter will be open until 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve ...

Update, 12/22: Des, last week's dog, has found a new home for Christmas!

Des can be home (with you) for Christmas

Meet Des, a friendly, well-behaved Cairn Terrier/Cocker Spaniel mix.

He's about three years old, and my first thought upon meeting him was, "How could anybody give up a dog this sweet?" Simple and sad answer: his owner died. OK, I feel like a cad.

Des really is a lovely dog; nice long coat, eager to please even a photographer, by posing by the tree. He's waiting at Countryside Humane Society for someone to adopt him. If you hurry, he'll be home for Christmas.

UPDATE: Last week's adoptable pet, the cat Shania, was not claimed, and is on her way to the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee, which reportedly has a three-day turnaround these days. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Shania is looking for a home

And now for something different: This week's pet up for adoption at Countryside Humane Society is a cat.

Let's be purrfectly clear: We have nothing against cats, although sometimes they make our allergies act up. But otherwise, we appreciate their independence, and revel in the ones that like to cuddle.

Shania is a year-old domestic shorthair. Grey to the uninitiated; "Pastel Tortie" to true cat color aficionados. She's a stray who was found pregnant. Her 10-week-old litter of kittens all will be adopted.

Shania loves other cats, hisses at dogs (but is willing to co-exist with them). She's great with kids; sweet and friendly and loves to purr.

P.S. Last week's dog -- Rufus -- was adopted!